Japan's Prime Minister Kishida Fumio intends to reshuffle his Cabinet and executives of his main ruling Liberal Democratic Party next Wednesday.
Kishida has informed senior LDP members of his intention.
He is expected to finalize the new lineup after returning to Japan on Monday, taking into consideration opinions of factions in the party.
Government and ruling party sources say Kishida is considering retaining two key figures in the LDP leadership -- Vice President Aso Taro and Secretary General Motegi Toshimitsu.
The two have played key roles in supporting the administration since Kishida launched his first cabinet.
The planned reshuffle comes one year after Kishida launched the current Cabinet.
Other focuses of the move are whether Kishida will retain Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu and LDP Policy Research Council Chairperson Hagiuda Koichi, and how extensive the reshuffle will be.
Kishida will have to decide what to do with the post of land, infrastructure, transport and tourism minister, which the LDP's junior coalition partner Komeito wants to continue to hold.
Kishida is also expected to decide whether to appoint LDP lawmakers who have never served in ministerial positions.