Japan PM to replace 5 ministers to win tax support

Japan's ruling Democratic Party of Japan powerbroker Ichiro Ozawa walks past a poster of Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda as he enters a news conference room at the party's headquarters after he had a meeting with Noda in Tokyo in this photo taken by Kyodo on June 3, 2012. Noda said on Sunday he planned to reshuffle his Cabinet on Monday as he aims to secure the support of the opposition Liberal Democratic Party for his plan to double the sales tax. [Photo/Agencies]

TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda plans to replace five cabinet ministers on Monday, as a move to win support from the biggest opposition party for his plan to raise sales tax rate, reported Japanese media.

Noda will replace Defense Minister Naoki Tanaka and Transport Minister Takeshi Maeda, who were both censured in April by the opposition-dominated upper house of parliament.

Yuichiro Hata, the DPJ's Diet affairs chief in the upper house, has been named to replace Maeda, while Senior Vice Defense Minister Shu Watanabe may succeed Tanaka, lawmakers said.

Meanwhile, Noda is set to promote Senior Vice Justice Minister Makoto Taki to replace Justice Minister Toshio Ogawa. Senior vice reconstruction minister Tadahiro Matsushita of the coalition partner People's New Party will likely become financial services minister to replace Shozaburo Jimi.

Michihiko Kano, minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries may also be replaced by Akira Gunji, a former senior vice farm minister.

The minor Cabinet reshuffle comes a day after Noda failed to win over former DPJ leader Ichiro Ozawa, who remains strongly opposed to the premier's signature policy goal.

Noda hopes to persuade the opposition Liberal Democratic Party to negotiate over the tax bills, by removing the ministers, who are seen as under-performing.

The tax raise is seen as a crucial part of efforts needed to curb Japan's huge public debt.