Cabinet reshuffle after death of Aichi

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33391, 26 November 1973, Page 15

Cabinet reshuffle after death of Aichi

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) TOKYO, November 25. The Japanese Prime Minister (Mr Tanaka) today appointed Mr Takeo Fukuda Minister of Finance in a Cabinet reshuffle after the death on Friday of the former holder of the portfolio, Mr Ki-ichi Aichi

A Government spokesman said the Foreign Minister (Mr Masayoshi Ohira) and the Minister of Trade (Mr Yasuhiro Nakasone) retained their portfolios in the I changes.

Long regarded as the political heir of Mr Sato, Mr Fukuda was defeated by Mr Tanaka last year in a contest for the leadership of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. Mr Fukuda, a brilliant economist, has been director of the Administrative Management Agency since last December, when Mr Tanaka formed his second Cabinet after a General Election.

Mr Tanaka, apparently putting emphasis on economic affairs, appointed Mr Tsuneo Uchida, the chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party’s Taxation System Research Council, as director of the Economic Planning Agency. Mr Uchida replaced Mr Zentaro Kosaka. Others who retained their

posts were the director of the Defence Agency (Mr Sadanori Yamanaka), the Minister of Education (Mr Seisuke Okudo), the Welfare Minister (Mr Kunikichi Saito), and the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Mr Susumu Nikaido). Other new Ministerial appointments included: Justice, Mr Umekichi Nakamura (former president of the House of Representatives); Agriculture, Mr Tadkao Kuraishi, (chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party Policy board); Communications, Mr Ken Harada; Labour, Mr Takashi Hasegawa; Construction, Mr Takao Kameoka; Home Affairs, Mr Kingo Machimura; and Director of the Science and Technology Agency, Mr Kinji Moriyama. Mr Tanaka announced Mr Aichi’s death to reporters at the hospital after having been with him when he died. Mr Aichi, aged 63, was one of the architect’s of Japan’s reconstruction after World War 11.