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Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo ***uda was Saturday aiming to breathe new life into his government after a cabinet reshuffle that followed fears of a recession in the world's second-largest economy.
The popularity of the 72-year-old centrist has plunged since he took over last September as voters have been left feeling worse off than a year ago because of rising global oil and food prices.
Japanese dailies on Saturday urged the premier to exercise strong leadership in carrying out reforms and tackling price hikes.
Japan's economy stands "at the brink of a recession" due to soaring prices of oil and food, while drastic reform of social security, tax and state finance systems must be made without delay, the Yomiuri Shimbun said in an editorial.

***uda named a new cabinet filled with heavyweights on Friday, vowing to jump-start a lacklustre economy in a last-ditch bid to revive waning public support. His new cabinet will be sworn in by Emperor Akihito later Saturday.

"We hope he will tackle pressing policy issues head on and show bold leadership when implementing policy," the mass-circulation daily said.

Other newspapers echoed concern over the economy.

"The prime minister is standing on an extremely severe position" as the opposition, which controls one house of parliament, has repeatedly held up ***uda's agenda, the Asahi Shimbun said, urging new polls, in an editorial.

If ***uda hesitates to reform the troubled pension funds and cut growing national debts, "he will never win voters' trust," the daily said.

On Friday, ***uda brushed off calls for snap general elections, which do not need to be held until September 2009, saying: "I think in the current socioeconomic situation it's the time to carry out policies."

"People's concerns about oil and food prices continue to grow, while he has to show responsible prospects for social security and tax reforms," the Mainichi Shimbun said, also calling for an early election.

In a related move, ***uda brought his former rival Taro Aso back from the political wilderness as secretary general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), a post key to preventing any internal revolt.

"We want to pay attention to the positive impact of Aso, who is said to be popular, on his administration," the Nikkei business daily said.