Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda reshuffled his Cabinet Friday to promote discussions with the opposition parties on his proposal to raise the nation's sales tax.

Katsuya Okada, a former secretary general of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), was appointed as the deputy prime minister, Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura said at a press conference.

The move was seen as one of Noda's efforts to get his tax bills, aimed at doubling the 5 percent sales tax by 2015, to pass through a divided parliament.

Okada was the Democratic Party of Japan's leader when the party was in opposition and has since served as foreign minister and party secretary-general. The 58-year-old politician, a fiscal hawk, is known for his clean, serious image and a stubborn streak.

The Japanese prime minister replaced Defense Minister Yasuo Ichikawa and Consumer Affairs Minister Kenji Yamaoka. Both of them were censured in the upper house last year.

The new defense minister is Naoki Tanaka, a DPJ upper house member. Noda retained 12 posts including foreign minister and finance minister.

The ministers of Noda's Cabinet resigned on Friday in a move to prepare for the first reshuffle since the Japanese prime minister launched the Cabinet last September.

Noda collected the resignations from his Cabinet members at a meeting on Friday morning.

Noda meant the reshuffle to promote discussions with the opposition parties on his proposal to raise the nation's 5 percent sales tax rate to 8 percent in April 2014, and 10 percent in October 2015, according to the lawmakers.

Okada is expected to take the lead in talks with the opposition camp on the tax hike.

A Kyodo News agency poll on Jan. 7-8 showed public support for Noda's Cabinet fell to 35.7 percent from 44.6 percent in December, with three-quarters of respondents citing an insufficient explanation of the tax hike plan.