Ota to stay as Japan's economy minister - media

TOKYO, Sep 25 (Reuters) Hiroko Ota will be retained as Japan's economics minister, TV Asahi reported today.

Ota will be reappointed to the post by Yasuo Fukuda, who was approved as prime minister earlier in the day by parliament with the ruling coalition's huge majority in the powerful lower house, the television station reported.

Fukuda's predecessor, Shinzo Abe, abruptly resigned this month after a year in office dogged by scandals, an election rout and a deadlock over Japan's support for US-led operations in Afghanistan.

REUTERS JK DS1532