Saturday’s Mainichi cited a government source as saying on Friday that coordination is underway for Cabinet Intelligence Director Kitamura to replace National Security Secretariat Secretary General Yachi when Prime Minister Abe reshuffles the cabinet in September. The 75- year-old Yachi has served in the post since the creation of the National Security Council in January 2014 and is known to be a close confidant of Abe. Sunday’s Sankei and Monday’s Yomiuri published similar reports, citing several government sources.