However, the resort to heavyweights at the same time further exhibited the difficulties for the Fukuda administration, analysts pointed out.

At a press conference following the reshuffle, Nobutaka Machimura, who retained the post of chief cabinet secretary, dismissed that the reshuffle was aimed at bolstering support rate.

"It speaks for itself that we did not carry out this reshuffle with a view to raising the public support ratings... Our Cabinet aims to figure out ways..., to realize policy issues that face us and to tackle issues," the top government spokesman was quoted by Kyodo News as saying.

Fukuda himself also named the new Cabinet the one for "realizing ease and comfort" at another press conference later in the day.

The lineup of the Cabinet proved the consideration. For example, no change was made to the most important post of chief cabinet secretary, neither was that to the ones related with foreign affairs and social welfare, stick to which are the long-standing abduction issue and the pending pension records scandal. The arrangements meant no big change of policies on such issues.

On posts related with financial, economic and fiscal policies, seasoned lawmakers adept in the fields were nominated. Such appointments were lauded as wise and proper when turbulence in world economy is posing rising challenges to resources-dependent Japan.

Fukuda's original Cabinet inherited from Abe was widely regarded as lack of characteristics. It was not only unsuccessful in fulfilling Fukuda's policies, but also encumbered him with old scandals.

Japanese media said Fukuda was gambling with his political life with the abrupt and extensive reshuffle, which showed his resolute to make a real change. The following question is whether the new team could bring "ease and comfort" to the Japanese people.

If Fukuda could really implement reformative measures by targeting forward mid- and long-term policy goals to provide tangible "ease and comfort" to the people, as he promised at the press conference, the approval rating would undoubtedly return to the upward track and the headache for the next parliamentary election slated for September 2009 would come to an end.

However, the current situation legitimizes no assurance of success for Fukuda. Economic depression incurred by rising oil and food prices is a globally challenge and won't be turned by Japan's will and efforts. Pension records and the new medical system for seniors are accumulative issues and have extensive implications.

With regards to relations with the coalition partner the New Komeito party, the LDP should be far from confident of having removed divergences. Kazuo Kitagawa, secretary general of the New Komeito, has said that a reshuffle won't guarantee higher support rate. Furthermore, the number of posts in the Cabinet for the party has not increased as the New Komeito asked for.

Japanese media pointed out the new Cabinet faces two outstanding challenges. Firstly, scandal involving Cabinet members would deal a fatal blow to Fukuda; secondly, failure to satisfy the public and improve the support rate would ignite anti-Fukuda trend even within the ruling coalition and eventually lead to the Prime Minister's resignation.

(Xinhua News Agency August 2, 2008)