Japan's Minister of Agriculture and Forestry resigns amid controversy over budget cuts... For the first time since the inauguration of the Takaichi cabinet,

Japan's Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, who sparked controversy over remarks about budget cuts and allegations of illegal donations, eventually resigned.

According to NHK on the 14th, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Kazuo Yana met with Prime Minister Takaichi at the Prime Minister's residence that evening and later told reporters, "I submitted my resignation."

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Yana, who took office last month through a cabinet reshuffle, became the center of controversy after his remarks in May, when he said that the head of a local government in his constituency had not supported him and had cut the road budget significantly, became known belatedly.

In addition, suspicions were raised that illegal donations were being made, such as providing free shuttle buses to supporters during the National Assembly election campaign.

Yana, the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, said at the budget committee of the House of Representatives the previous day that she would "withdraw and apologize for the inappropriateness" of her remarks regarding local government budget cuts. However, it appears that she eventually resigned as criticism from not only the opposition party but also within the ruling party intensified.

On this day, before Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Yana announced his intention to resign, 10 opposition parties in the House of Councilors decided to submit a resolution to censure him.

This is the first time a cabinet minister has resigned due to a controversy over misconduct since the Takaichi administration took office in October last year.

Prime Minister Takaichi said on this day that he had accepted the resignation of Yana Agriculture and Forestry Minister, and regarding Yana Agriculture and Forestry Minister's explanation to the National Assembly, "I do not believe that it was a content that was fully understood, including by myself."

He added that the successor will be announced on the 15th.