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Japanese minister 'has resigned' Japan resignation adds to PM woes
(about 1 hour later)
Japan's Agriculture Minister Takehiko Endo has resigned, only a week after being appointed, according to media reports. Japan's Agriculture Minister Takehiko Endo has resigned, only a week after being appointed, in the latest blow for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
On Saturday, Mr Endo admitted that a private farm group he heads was involved in illegal dealings.On Saturday, Mr Endo admitted that a private farm group he heads was involved in illegal dealings.
He said the group had been paid 1.15m Yen ($9,900) by the state after overstating crop damage in 1999.He said the group had been paid 1.15m Yen ($9,900) by the state after overstating crop damage in 1999.
The scandal is a further blow to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who lost Upper House elections a month ago. "I apologise. The series of scandals has added to the people's distrust," said Mr Endo as he stood down.
He submitted his resignation to Mr Abe early on Monday, and the prime minister has accepted it.
Mr Abe has been reeling, after losing Upper House elections a month ago.
His Liberal Democratic Party lost control of the upper house to the opposition Democratic Party for the first time.His Liberal Democratic Party lost control of the upper house to the opposition Democratic Party for the first time.
Mr Abe reshuffled his cabinet after that defeat, partly because of a series of ministerial scandals.Mr Abe reshuffled his cabinet after that defeat, partly because of a series of ministerial scandals.
But he has defied calls for his own resignation.But he has defied calls for his own resignation.
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 Akagi, stepped down in July over an accounting row in his office.His predecessor, Norihiko Akagi, stepped down 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.