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| Japanese minister 'kills himself' | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Japan's agriculture minister has died in hospital after apparently committing suicide, reports say. | |
| Toshikatsu Matsuoka, 62, who has been linked to a growing political funding scandal, was reportedly found hanged in a building near Japan's parliament. | Toshikatsu Matsuoka, 62, who has been linked to a growing political funding scandal, was reportedly found hanged in a building near Japan's parliament. |
| He was rushed to emergency treatment but was declared dead a short time later, according to reports. | He was rushed to emergency treatment but was declared dead a short time later, according to reports. |
| He was involved in a scandal over unexplained expenses claimed for a rent-free office. | He was involved in a scandal over unexplained expenses claimed for a rent-free office. |
| Mr Matsuoka had refused to explain the expenses to a parliamentary committee but the Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, defended him, saying he had fulfilled his legal responsibilities. | |
| Support for Japan's government has fallen to its lowest level since Mr Abe took office last year, a new poll suggests. |