TOKYO - The popular son of former Japanese prime minister Junichiro Koizumi will be named environment minister when incumbent Shinzo Abe reshuffles his cabinet on Wednesday, public broadcaster NHK reported.

Shinjiro Koizumi, 38, who first won election to parliament's lower house in 2009, regularly tops opinion polls as the most suitable successor to Abe.

(Reporting by Makiko Yamazaki; Editing by David Dolan) ((david.dolan@tr.com; +81 3 6441 1526; Reuters Messaging: david.dolan.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))