Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda is to reshuffle his 17-member Cabinet Friday, Japanese media reported Thursday, quoting senior lawmakers of the ruling coalition.

Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda speaks to reporters at his official residence in Tokyo. Fukuda is set to reshuffle his cabinet in a bid to revive sagging approval ratings by bringing in new faces, reports said. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

Fukuda will also adjust the leadership of his ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), the reports said.

Fukuda is scheduled to put forward the planned reshuffle during meeting Friday morning with Akihiro Ota, leader of the LDP's minor coalition partner the New Komeito Party, and carry out the reshuffle right after the meeting, Kyodo News said.

However, the prime minister himself refrained from confirming the exact time of the reshuffle in front of reporters late Thursday, according to Japan's leading broadcaster NHK.

Fukuda told reporters late Wednesday that he will make decision about reshuffling the Cabinet after hearing reports about the World Trade Organization negotiation process by Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Masatoshi Wakabayashi and Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Akira Amari, who came back to Tokyo Thursday afternoon.

Fukuda inherited most of the Cabinet lineup from his predecessor Shinzo Abe. Words about his possible reshuffle of the Cabinet in late July to improve the sluggish support rate have been circulating since earlier this month.

(Xinhua News Agency August 1, 2008)