Japan's new industry minister hit by S&M bar scandal

Tokyo

JAPAN was stung on Thursday by its third political scandal in a week after the country's new industry minister - whose predecessor resigned in disgrace over misspending - admitted that his underlings had spent office cash at a sex bar.

The new revelations deal another serious blow to the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe which was already facing a public backlash over its bid to turn Japan's shuttered nuclear reactors back on and its stalling plans to revive the economy.