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Yuko Obuchi: Japanese trade and industry minister quits Japanese ministers Yuko Obuchi and Midori Matsushima quit
(35 minutes later)
Japanese Trade and Industry Minister Yuko Obuchi has resigned amid claims of the misuse of political funds, in a major blow for PM Shinzo Abe. Japan's Justice Minister Midori Matsushima has resigned, hours after the resignation of Trade and Industry Minister Yuko Obuchi.
Yuko Obuchi is alleged to have used funds from her political support groups and other donations on make-up and other items unconnected to politics. Ms Matsushima had been accused by the opposition of violating election laws.
She handed Mr Abe a letter of resignation during a 30-minute meeting. Ms Obuchi is alleged to have misused funds from her political support groups and other donations.
Correspondents say it is a setback to Mr Abe, who wants to bring more women into the top levels of government. Correspondents say the resignations are a major setback to PM Shinzo Abe, who wants to bring more women into the top levels of government.
Ms Obuchi, 40, was one of five women appointed by Mr Abe in his last cabinet reshuffle last month and tipped by some as a future prime minister. Ms Obuchi, 40, was one of five women appointed by Mr Abe in his cabinet reshuffle last month and was tipped by some as a future prime minister.
But last week came news that her staff had spent tens of thousands of dollars of campaign funds shopping for designer goods, and tens of thousands more on taking constituents on trips to Tokyo. But allegations emerged last week that her staff had misused thousands of dollars of campaign funds.
At a televised press conference on Monday, Ms Obuchi bowed in apology and said she was resigning because "we cannot let economic policy and energy policy stagnate... because of my problems". Ms Obuchi has not acknowledged personal wrongdoing, but at a televised press conference on Monday, she said she was resigning because "we cannot let economic policy and energy policy stagnate... because of my problems".
"I take seriously the impact I have caused," she said. She also apologised for being unable to contribute to key goals set by Mr Abe, including economic recovery and "a society where women shine"."I take seriously the impact I have caused," she said. She also apologised for being unable to contribute to key goals set by Mr Abe, including economic recovery and "a society where women shine".
Criminal complaintCriminal complaint
Local media, quoting unnamed sources, say another female cabinet member, Justice Minister Midori Matsushima, is due to resign as well. Hours later Mr Abe announced that Ms Matsushima, 58, had also resigned.
Ms Matsushima had distributed paper fans carrying her image and policies at a festival in her constituency, said NHK, in a violation of election law. She had distributed paper fans carrying her image and policies at a festival in her constituency, said NHK.
The opposition Democratic Party filed a criminal complaint against her on Friday, and demanded her resignation. The opposition Democratic Party filed a criminal complaint against her on Friday, and demanded her resignation, saying this was an apparent violation of election law and rules on usage of political funds.
The BBC's Japan correspondent Rupert Wingfield-Hayes says that this is not the end of Mr Abe's problems concerning his new female ministers.The BBC's Japan correspondent Rupert Wingfield-Hayes says that this is not the end of Mr Abe's problems concerning his new female ministers.
Eriko Yamatani, minister in charge of the North Korean abduction issue, was shown in photographs with members of an ultra-nationalist group accused of hate speech against Japan's ethnic Korean community.Eriko Yamatani, minister in charge of the North Korean abduction issue, was shown in photographs with members of an ultra-nationalist group accused of hate speech against Japan's ethnic Korean community.
Mr Abe's first term as prime minister in 2006-2007 saw a string of scandals amongst his ministers, eventually leading to his own resignation for health reasons after just one year in office.Mr Abe's first term as prime minister in 2006-2007 saw a string of scandals amongst his ministers, eventually leading to his own resignation for health reasons after just one year in office.