Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has named his deputy, Naoto Kan, as the country's new finance minister.
Mr Kan will replace 77-year-old Hirohisa Fujii, who is resigning for health reasons.
Mr Hatoyama had earlier said he did not want Mr Fujii, one of the few experienced ministers in his Democratic Party-led government, to resign.
Mr Kan will inherit the job at a time when Japan faces deflation, a fragile economy and huge public debt.
