Farm minister Michihiko Kano was admitted to a hospital Sunday night with acute stomach inflammation, the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry said Monday.

He is suffering from vomiting and diarrhea, and is suspected of having contracted the norovirus, the ministry said.

Kano was absent from Monday's session of the Upper House Budget Committee as well as the government-sponsored memorial service Sunday for the March 11 earthquake and tsunami victims.