Japanese Justice Minister Resigns

Japanese Justice Minister Keishu Tanaka submitted his resignation on October 23, less than a month after being appointed, citing health reasons.

He had previously been under pressure due to his past ties with the Japanese mafia (yakuza).

Mr. Keishu Tanaka has submitted his resignation - Photo: AFP

Mr. Keishu Tanaka, 74 years old, just took office on October 1. Last weekend he was hospitalized due to chest pain.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura said Mr Tanaka resigned due to illness. “After a medical examination, it was determined that he needed to rest. Although I regret it, I have accepted his resignation,” Mr Fujimura said.

On October 12, Mr. Tanaka admitted that he had been a wedding officiant for a yakuza (a name for members of criminal syndicates in Japan) and attended a party organized by the boss of a crime group about 30 years ago. However, he also affirmed that at that time he did not know these people were yakuza.

He also admitted that his office had received donations from a foreign-run company between 2006 and 2009, which is prohibited under Japan's political fund management law. His office said it later returned the money.

According to the BBC, Mr Tanaka's resignation is another defeat for Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, who is currently receiving very low public support according to recent polls.

Before Mr. Tanaka, another minister under Mr. Noda, Yoshio Hachiro, also resigned shortly after being appointed as trade minister, due to a "slip of the tongue" calling the area around the Fukushima Nuclear Plant a "dead city".

Japanese media reported earlier this week that Mr. Noda’s government’s approval rating had fallen below 20 percent for the first time. The prime minister himself has promised to hold early elections, expected later this year or early next year.

According to Tuoi Tre - DT