TOKYO- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has set a planned cabinet reshuffle for Aug. 3, informed sources said Saturday, with embattled Defense Minister Tomomi Inada and Justice Minister Katsutoshi Kaneda likely to be replaced.

Abe, also president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, will shake up the party's executive team on the same day, planning to retain Toshihiro Nikai and Masahiko Komura as its secretary-general and vice president, respectively, according to the sources.

Within the ruling bloc, the view is emerging that the cabinet reshuffle could be more drastic than earlier expected, after the Abe cabinet's public approval rate plunged into the so-called danger zone below 30 pct in a Jiji Press public opinion poll released on Friday.

The opposition camp has demanded Abe sack Inada over her controversial remarks in a speech during the LDP's campaign for the July 2 Tokyo metropolitan assembly election, in which the party suffered a crushing defeat.

In the speech, Inada called for support for an LDP-backed candidate in the capacity of defense minister and on behalf of her ministry and the Self-Defense Forces.

Kaneda was under fire for his inability to provide convincing explanations during parliamentary deliberations on a controversial anti-conspiracy bill that was enacted last month.

There are persistent calls from within the ruling bloc for removing Inada and Kaneda.

Abe has expressed his intention to maintain key members of his administration, including Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso, who doubles as finance minister, and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga.

Abe also hopes that Nikai, an experienced politician, will continue to work as LDP secretary-general to get through the current headwind for the Abe administration, the sources said.

The prime minister also pins his hopes on Nikai's connections with China, as his administration is working to improve bilateral ties with the Asian neighbor.

Komura, as LDP vice president, is expected to continue leading the party's internal talks on revising Japan's constitution, which is Abe's long-cherished political aim.

Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, as well as Aso and Suga, has remained in the cabinet since Abe returned to power in December 2012.

Some in the administration believe Kishida should stay on as foreign minister from the standpoint of diplomatic continuity, but many in the Kishida-led faction of the LDP want him to assume a key party post as he aims to become Abe's successor. (Jiji Press)