Japan Elects Abe New Prime Minister

Liberal Democratic Party leader Shinzo Abe was elected prime minister of Japan Tuesday by both houses of parliament.

Abe, the first Japanese prime minister to be born after World War II, named his new Cabinet Tuesday, keeping Foreign Minister Taro Aso in his position and selecting Fumio Kyuma as head of the Defense Agency, Kyodo News reported.

Abe, who was named leader of the LDP last week, appointed close ally and former Senior Vice Foreign Minister Yasuhisa Shiozaki as chief Cabinet secretary and minister in charge of the issue of North Korea’s abductions of Japanese nationals.

The new premier named Tetsyzo Fuyushiba, of the LDP coalition ally New Komeito party, minister of land, infrastructure and transport.

Abe selected two women into his Cabinet: Hiroko Ota as minister in charge of economic and fiscal policy, and Sanae Takaichi as minister in charge of Okinawa and Northern Territories issues.

Outgoing prime minister and long-time Abe mentor Junichiro Koizumi called upon the new administration to continue reforms started by Koizumi during his 5 1/2 years in office.