Economic revitalization minister Daishiro Yamagiwa resigned on Monday over his links to the controversial Unification Church, in another blow to the Cabinet of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
The decision comes after calls from opposition parties demanding Yamagiwa's resignation since the beginning of the parliamentary session that convened on Oct. 3. Kishida had been rejecting the demand, but Yamagiwa apparently yielded to mounting calls for him to step down.
"I've caused trouble for the administration" by not being forthcoming over ties to the religious group, Yamagiwa told reporters after tendering his resignation to Kishida. "This was the last moment for me to resign before it would affect (deliberations over) the economic stimulus package."