Abenomics, womenomics take a hit as 2 female ministers quit

Tokyo

DEALING a severe blow to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's "womenomics" policies and also inflicting indirect damage on his "Abenomics" strategies, two of the five women ministers Mr Abe brought into his Cabinet less than two months ago both resigned on Monday over alleged election-linked offences.

In what Kyodo News termed a "huge blow" to Mr Abe, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yuko Obuchi resigned to take responsibility for alleged misuse of political funds, while Minister of Justice Midori Matsushima stepped down over alleged violation of election laws by distributing paper fans to constituents.

A badly chastened Mr Abe pledged to fill the two key appointments quickly and last night, he confirmed that he had chosen 64-year-old Yoichi Miyazawa, a former vice economics minister and the nephew of the late prime minister Kiichi Miyazawa, to replace Obuchi as industry minister. Nipp…