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Japan hit by new ministerial row Japan hit by new ministerial row
(about 3 hours later)
Japan's new agriculture minister has admitted a private farm group he heads was involved in illegal dealings, in a fresh blow to PM Shinzo Abe.Japan's new agriculture minister has admitted a private farm group he heads was involved in illegal dealings, in a fresh blow to PM Shinzo Abe.
Takehiko Endo said the group had been paid 1.15m Yen ($9,900) by the state after overstating crop damage in 1999.Takehiko Endo said the group had been paid 1.15m Yen ($9,900) by the state after overstating crop damage in 1999.
Mr Endo said he would now resign as head of the group, but refused to step down as agriculture minister.Mr Endo said he would now resign as head of the group, but refused to step down as agriculture minister.
Mr Abe reshuffled his cabinet after losing July polls, partly because of a series of ministerial scandals.Mr Abe reshuffled his cabinet after losing July polls, partly because of a series of ministerial scandals.
In the election, Mr Abe's ruling Liberal Democratic Party lost control of the upper house to the opposition Democratic Party for the first time.In the election, Mr Abe's ruling Liberal Democratic Party lost control of the upper house to the opposition Democratic Party for the first time.
But the prime minister has defied calls for his resignation. With the reshuffle, he is aiming to shore up support for his embattled cabinet.But the prime minister has defied calls for his resignation. With the reshuffle, he is aiming to shore up support for his embattled cabinet.
Troubled ministryTroubled ministry
Mr Endo admitted that his farming group - in his constituency in the northern Japan - had collected the government money after exaggerating weather damage done to the grape harvest in 1999.Mr Endo admitted that his farming group - in his constituency in the northern Japan - had collected the government money after exaggerating weather damage done to the grape harvest in 1999.
Mr Abe aims to win back voters' trust with a strong cabinetMr Abe aims to win back voters' trust with a strong cabinet
"It was a serious misconduct," Mr Endo told reporters on Saturday."It was a serious misconduct," Mr Endo told reporters on Saturday.
He said he did not tell Mr Abe about the issue when he was offered the ministerial post last Monday.He said he did not tell Mr Abe about the issue when he was offered the ministerial post last Monday.
"I didn't think the case would cause trouble," Mr Endo said."I didn't think the case would cause trouble," Mr Endo said.
Mr Endo's farming group has yet to return the money to state coffers, reports in the Japanese media say.Mr Endo's farming group has yet to return the money to state coffers, reports in the Japanese media say.
Mr Endo is the third agricultural minister to be hit by a scandal in recent months.Mr Endo is the third agricultural minister to be hit by a scandal in recent months.
His predecessor, Norihiko Agai, quit in July over an accounting row in his office. His predecessor, Norihiko Akagi, quit in July over an accounting row in his office.
The previous incumbent, Toshikatsu Matsuoka, apparently committed suicide in May over claims he had links to a political funding scandal.The previous incumbent, Toshikatsu Matsuoka, apparently committed suicide in May over claims he had links to a political funding scandal.