Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda reshuffled his Cabinet on Monday for the second time this year. Noda argues that raising the 5 percent sales tax to 10 percent is necessary for Japan, according to a report of the Associated Press. Noda - who replaced five Cabinet members, including his defense minister Naoki Tanaka, to satisfy opposition demands - is hoping to pass bills linked to tax and social security reforms before the current parliamentary session ends June 21. "We are making a major decision that will determine the fate of Japan's future within the next 20 days," Noda told a news conference. "We must overcome the differences between the ruling party and the opposition." Noda had met Sunday with ruling party legislator Ichiro Ozawa, who opposes the proposed tax increase. The two failed to agree on the bill, meaning Noda would need opposition support to pass it. Ozawa, who leads a major faction of lawmakers in the ruling party, has said reforms, recovery and cutting waste must come before asking the public to bear a bigger tax burden. Opposition lawmakers were demanding the removal of four Cabinet ministers, including the defense, transport, justice and agriculture. Noda replaced all four of those ministers, as well as the minister for financial and postal reform.
