Japan's prime minister expected to reshuffle Cabinet on Oct 7

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe probably will reshuffle his Cabinet on Oct 7 after returning from abroad on Oct 2, according to sources.

Abe left for New York on Saturday morning to attend the U.N. General Assembly meeting.

He will deliver a speech at the General Assembly in which he will appeal mainly for the need to implement reforms in the U.N. Security Council and take measures to aid refugees.

The prime minister plans to hold bilateral summit meetings with leaders of other countries, including Russian President Vladimir Putin.

At Haneda Airport ahead of his departure, Abe told reporters: "The U.N. General Assembly faces many important tasks. I'll express my determination to have Japan contribute more than ever to the peace and prosperity of the world."

About his summit meeting with Putin, he said, "I'll frankly discuss a wide range of issues including (the northern) territories."

During his stay in the United States, Abe is scheduled to meet with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, and will try to arrange a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Before returning home, the prime minister will visit Jamaica.

Abe is expected to consider his new Cabinet lineup while he is abroad.

In the Cabinet reshuffle, Abe will probably retain key ministers, such as Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso and Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida.

One focus of attention in the reshuffle will be on the successor to Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Minister Hakubun Shimomura, who will leave the Cabinet to take responsibility for the fiasco over the construction plans for the New National Stadium, which have been withdrawn.

Another focus of attention will be who will be appointed to a newly created ministerial post in charge of measures to encourage all Japanese nationals to play active roles in society.