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Japan resignation adds to PM woes Japan resignation adds to PM woes
(about 2 hours later)
Japan's Agriculture Minister Takehiko Endo has resigned, only a week after being appointed, in the latest blow for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Japan's Agriculture Minister Takehiko Endo has resigned only a week after being appointed, in a fresh blow for embattled 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.
"I apologise. The series of scandals has added to the people's distrust," said Mr Endo as he stood down. He will be replaced by Masatoshi Wakabayashi, who becomes Japan's fourth agriculture minister in four months.
He submitted his resignation to Mr Abe early on Monday, and the prime minister has accepted it. Mr Endo submitted his resignation to Mr Abe early on Monday, and the prime minister accepted it.
Mr Abe has been reeling, after losing Upper House elections a month ago. "I apologise. The series of scandals has added to the people's distrust," he said as he stood down.
His Liberal Democratic Party lost control of the upper house to the opposition Democratic Party for the first time. 'Extensive screening'
Mr Abe reshuffled his cabinet after that defeat, partly because of a series of ministerial scandals. His resignation is more embarrassment for Mr Abe, who has been reeling since a crushing defeat in Upper House elections in July.
But he has defied calls for his own resignation. Mr Abe aims to win back voters' trust with a strong cabinet
The result was partly blamed on a series of scandals that had engulfed several of his ministers.
Last week the prime minister reshuffled his Cabinet, bringing back veteran lawmakers in a bid to restore confidence in his government.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Kaoru Yosano said that the government had screened candidates carefully.
"The screening system this time was the most extensive in post-war Japanese history. We checked all the documents that we could obtain," he said.
"But we can't know everything."
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 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," he 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 August 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, committed suicide in May over claims he had links to a political funding scandal.
Mr Wakabayashi, the new appointment, is a former environment minister.