Japan's Kishida loses fourth minister in three months

JAPAN’S reconstruction minister resigned on Tuesday (Dec 27) over alleged financial improprieties, becoming the fourth minister to depart Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s cabinet in just three months.

Kenya Akiba, who is accused of making unlawful political payments to his aides, wife and mother, told reporters: “I believe there is no illegality in terms of my actions.”

But “it is not my wish to see proceedings for the budget and other legislative agendas stall”, he added.

Shortly after Akiba’s resignation, a controversial ruling party member serving as a parliamentary vice-minister for internal affairs and communications also stepped down.

Mio Sugita, a right-wing politician frequently accused of divisive rhetoric, has been under fire in recent weeks over comments she made several years ago about same-sex couples and ethnic minorities.

The resignations come as Kishida battles some of the lowest approval ratings of his tenure, with local media describing the series of departures from his cabinet as a “domino effect”.

The Japanese public has become increasingly disillusioned with lawmakers after a string of scandals involving ministers and their ties to the Unification Church sect.

“I feel responsible that a minister has resigned,” Kishida told reporters after Akiba’s departure. “We must continue to deal with a mountain of tasks at hand. I want to fulfil my responsibility by continuing the work of politics.”

Last month, Kishida’s minister for internal affairs resigned over alleged campaign finance irregularities, and his justice minister stepped down in November after reportedly saying that his “low-profile” job only generated media coverage when approving death sentences.

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In October, the minister for economic revitalisation resigned over allegations that he had ties to the Unification Church.

The sect has been in the spotlight since reports emerged that the man accused of killing former prime minister Shinzo Abe in July resented the organisation, as his mother had made donations to it that bankrupted his family.

The church, officially known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, has denied wrongdoing.

Approval ratings for Kishida’s cabinet have been hovering near the so-called “danger level” of 30 per cent, and there has been speculation that he will reshuffle his cabinet before the next parliament session in January.

Kishida said he had no immediate plans to reshuffle his cabinet. AFP