TOKYO – Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is considering reshuffling her Cabinet and the executive lineup of her ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on Sept 16 at the earliest, local media reported on Monday.

On Monday, Takaichi met with senior LDP officials over lunch at her office in Tokyo, exchanging views on party management ahead of the expected leadership reshuffle, Kyodo News reported.

The lunch meeting was attended by LDP policy chief Takayuki Kobayashi, Executive Acting Secretary-General of the LDP Koichi Hagiuda, and Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara, the report said.

Later in the day, Takaichi met with Shunichi Suzuki, secretary-general of the LDP.

The timing of the shake-ups comes ahead of an extraordinary parliamentary session in the fall.

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Takaichi, 65, appears intent on strengthening the foundation of her administration by giving key posts to potential rivals in next autumn's party presidential election to keep them in check, the report said.