State Minister of Finance Kenji Kanda submitted his resignation Monday after admitting last week that his firm had failed to pay fixed asset taxes on its land and property. Both were seized by tax authorities on four occasions between 2013 and last year after his company fell into arrears.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida apologized Monday evening for appointing a deputy minister who had to resign soon after taking office in September.
Asked how he plans to take responsibility for the resignations — the third by a senior Cabinet official in a month — Kishida said: "I strongly believe we need to regain public trust by continuing to conduct our duties. I gravely accept my responsibility for appointing (Kanda)."