Tokyo residents on Japan's new PM Yoshihide Suga

Residents of Japan's capital Tokyo expressed mixed feelings on Wednesday over the appointment of Yoshihide Suga as the country's new prime minister, following the resignation of Shinzo Abe.

"Serving more than seven and a half years, Abe has gained stable support from the nation. I hope Mr. Suga will  take over Abe's mission and keep working hard," said Machiko Iwata, 33, an administrative assistant at law firm.

But some voiced concerns that there would not be much change from what Abe was doing.

"There were some scandals under the Abe administration, so I hope such things won't happen again. I hope (Suga) will do politics in the way the nation can agree with," said Naoki Iriya, a 35-year-old office employee.

Suga, who was chief cabinet secretary in Abe's government, was due to announce his own cabinet later Wednesday.

Suga has stressed his background as a farmer's son and a self-made politician in promising to serve the interests of ordinary people and rural communities.

He has said he will pursue Abe's unfinished policies and that his priorities will be fighting the coronavirus and turning around an economy battered by the pandemic.