Politics · 2026-10-14 · Afternoon briefing

Japanese agriculture minister quits after one month amid scandal

Japan’s agriculture minister, Kazuo Yana, resigned on Wednesday after just one month in the post, marking the first major personnel test for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Takaichi had appointed Yana during a cabinet reshuffle last month and faced repeated questions from opposition parties over the decision.

Yana came under fire for reports that he claimed to have cut road budgets for municipalities in Tochigi prefecture whose mayors did not support him in February's election. He faced further scrutiny over allegations that supporters were given free bus transport to an event in January, a potential violation of election law.

Prime Minister Takaichi initially defended her appointee but shifted her stance as opposition parties prepared a censure motion that threatened to stall other legislation, including a bill for consumption tax reduction. She accepted the resignation on Wednesday, acknowledging her responsibility for the appointment.

Summary written by Cup of News with AI from the sources below. Check the originals for the full story.

Read the sources

• Japan's scandal-hit agriculture minister quits in blow to PM Takaichi
• Japan farm minister submits resignation in first scandal blow for PM Takaichi
• Pressure mounts on Japan’s Farm Minister ahead of Takaichi meet
• Japan farm minister steps down, first for Takaichi cabinet
• Embattled Japan Agriculture Min. Yana Resigns

More stories in this edition

1. US inflation accelerates to 3.7% on soaring energy costs
2. Moscow questions Trump's energy truce amid new Ukraine attacks
3. EU seeks new trade weapons after China car deal
4. Pope Leo XIV recovering after lung cancer surgery
5. Sudan crisis: 24.6m face hunger as war and climate shocks converge
6. Saudi Arabia overturns death sentence for Sri Lankan over Facebook post
7. BYD to double its shipping fleet as trade routes fray
8. AI 'worms' may soon self-replicate on home devices, Anthropic warns
9. Spring tornado and hailstorm flood Chilean capital

Read the whole edition