Adding to the rash of scandals suddenly plaguing the Abe Cabinet, another new minister admitted during an urgently arranged news conference early Tuesday that there are discrepancies amounting to ¥6.64 million between total income and expenses in the political funding reports of one of his support groups in 2008 and 2009.

Environment Minister Yoshio Mochizuki, a Lower House member elected from Shizuoka Prefecture, was appointed to the Cabinet in the reshuffle on Sept. 3.

According to Mochizuki, an affiliated support group named Mochizuki Yoshio Koen Kai registered ¥3.05 million for 2008 and ¥3.59 million for 2009 as expenses for organizing a New Year's party for him and his supporters.