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Japan PM Kan unveils new cabinet Japan PM vows action on debt, US
(about 3 hours later)
Naoto Kan previously served as deputy PM and finance minister Naoto Kan said he wanted to "rehabilitate" the country
Japan's new Prime Minister Naoto Kan has named his cabinet and is due to be formally sworn in by Emperor Akihito. Japan's incoming Prime Minister Naoto Kan has vowed to make the country more "vigorous", tackle national debt and improve relations with the US.
As expected, he chose his former deputy Yoshihiko Noda to replace him as finance minister, while the foreign and defence ministers remain in office. Mr Kan was speaking before being sworn in to office by Emperor Akihito.
Mr Kan was elected prime minister by lawmakers on Friday, two days after the abrupt resignation of Yukio Hatoyama. His appointment on Friday followed the abrupt resignation of Yukio Hatoyama.
Mr Hatoyama stepped down amid tensions over a controversial US military base on the island of Okinawa. Mr Kan earlier named his new cabinet, keeping 11 of the 17 ministers in place and appointing his former deputy Yoshihiko Noda as finance minister.
Mr Kan has assured President Barack Obama that he will relocate the base, as agreed, despite anger from locals who want it moved off Okinawa entirely. Mr Hatoyama stepped down last week, amid tensions over a controversial US military base on the island of Okinawa.
Mr Kan, the former finance minister, has assured President Barack Obama that he will relocate the base to the north of the island as agreed, despite anger from locals who want it moved off Okinawa entirely.
Despite the unpopular move, Mr Kan enjoys poll ratings above 60% as his Democratic Party (DPJ) faces an election for the upper house next month.Despite the unpopular move, Mr Kan enjoys poll ratings above 60% as his Democratic Party (DPJ) faces an election for the upper house next month.
Traditional ceremonyTraditional ceremony
As had been widely expected, Mr Kan has retained many top ministers in his cabinet, including Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada and Defence Minister Toshimi Kitazawa. In his televised remarks, Mr Kan said he wanted to "rehabilitate Japan drastically and create a vigorous country".
He said the national debt - the largest debt of the industrialised world, at nearly twice the country's economic output - should be "handled as the country's biggest topic".
"Rebuilding financial health is essential for Japan's economy," he said.
Mr Kan also pledged to restore the relationship with Washington, saying the Japan-US security alliance was the "cornerstone" of Tokyo's politics.
He said he would honour the agreement reached with the US over the future of the the Futenma base on Okinawa, while seeking to "ease the burden for the people of Okinawa".
Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Kan unveiled his new cabinet, which will be sworn in alongside him later.
As had been widely expected, he retained many top ministers, including Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada and Defence Minister Toshimi Kitazawa.
Mr Noda, his former deputy finance minister and a fiscal conservative, will head the finance ministry.Mr Noda, his former deputy finance minister and a fiscal conservative, will head the finance ministry.
The BBC's Roland Buerk in Tokyo says Mr Okada's main task will be to repair ties with the US, damaged by the lengthy deliberations over the future of Okinawa.
Mr Noda has already said he will rein in Japan's borrowing - the country has the largest debt in the industrialised world.
Among the new faces in the cabinet is Renho, a popular television presenter who goes by one name.Among the new faces in the cabinet is Renho, a popular television presenter who goes by one name.
The 42-year-old, known for her tough questioning of bureaucrats in debates over public spending, has been appointed minister of administrative reform.The 42-year-old, known for her tough questioning of bureaucrats in debates over public spending, has been appointed minister of administrative reform.
Announcing the appointments, Yoshito Sengoku, the new chief cabinet secretary, said the ministers were "young, fresh and enthusiastic about their jobs".Announcing the appointments, Yoshito Sengoku, the new chief cabinet secretary, said the ministers were "young, fresh and enthusiastic about their jobs".
"Prime Minister Kan has appointed the ministers mindful of the need to form a government with professionalism, very clean politics and ability to govern," he said."Prime Minister Kan has appointed the ministers mindful of the need to form a government with professionalism, very clean politics and ability to govern," he said.
Mr Kan, who previously served as finance minister and deputy prime minister, is expected to gather his cabinet for its first meeting on Tuesday morning. Later in the day, the ministers will don ceremonial tuxedos and go to the Imperial Palace in central Tokyo to be formally sworn in.
In keeping with tradition, ministers will don ceremonial tuxedos and go to the emperor's palace in central Tokyo to be formally sworn in.
Japanese newspapers have welcomed the "son of a salary man" to the post of prime minister, contrasting his ordinary background to the privileged roots of recent prime ministers.Japanese newspapers have welcomed the "son of a salary man" to the post of prime minister, contrasting his ordinary background to the privileged roots of recent prime ministers.
On Monday, Mr Kan reshuffled the DJP party leadership.On Monday, Mr Kan reshuffled the DJP party leadership.
He announced that Yukio Edano would take over as secretary general of the party, replacing the powerful Ichiro Ozawa, who stepped down last week.He announced that Yukio Edano would take over as secretary general of the party, replacing the powerful Ichiro Ozawa, who stepped down last week.
Shinji Tarutoko, who challenged Mr Kan for the leadership, was named the DPJ's parliamentary affairs chief.Shinji Tarutoko, who challenged Mr Kan for the leadership, was named the DPJ's parliamentary affairs chief.