New reconstruction minister appointed

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TOKYO, July 6 (UPI) -- Tatsuo Hirano, senior vice minister, will succeed Ryu Matsumoto as Japan's reconstruction minister, the government announced.

Matsumoto resigned Tuesday after being in office just a few days, as he came under pressure for remarks seen as unpleasant to officials in the areas hit by a magnitude-9 earthquake and a tsunami March 11. Matsumoto apologized for causing any offense to the quake-tsunami victims.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said Hirano, who has been handling reconstruction issues, will be promoted to take charge of the newly created ministry to oversee reconstruction and relief work in northeastern Japan, Kyodo News reported.

Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan took responsibility Wednesday for Matsumoto's "unpleasant" remarks as he had appointed the minister to the job, Kyodo News reported.

Kan, who made his statement during a parliamentary session, urged cooperation among all political parties in the reconstruction effort.