On Oct. 14, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Kazuo Yana met Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the Prime Minister's Office and submitted his resignation. The prime minister accepted it (NHK, Mainichi Shimbun, Jiji Press, Nikkei). Mr. Yana explained his reason for resigning as “I cannot cause any more trouble for Diet deliberations” (Nikkei). It is the first time a cabinet minister has resigned over a scandal since the Takaichi government took office last October, and it came less than 1 month after the launch of the 2nd reshuffled cabinet (Nikkei, Yomiuri Shimbun). The problems were his “budget cut” remark about road budgets in his home area, and the matter of shuttling supporters free of charge by shuttle bus in a past House of Representatives election. The latter is suspected of violating the Public Offices Election Act (Nikkei, Yomiuri Shimbun). The Asahi Shimbun carried testimony from several former staff members that they had made phone calls asking for votes in exchange for payment in Mr. Yana's elections, and the Yomiuri Shimbun also reported suspicion of payment. At the House of Representatives Budget Committee the same day, the prime minister declined to answer whether it was illegal, saying the relevant authorities would decide, and had said he would not hesitate over personnel measures if it was illegal (NHK, Mainichi Shimbun). After accepting the resignation, the prime minister said, “I take responsibility for the appointment very seriously,” and indicated he would announce a successor on the 15th (NHK). The Mainichi Shimbun reports that the successor is still being arranged.
Appointing cabinet ministers is the prime minister's authority, and a run of scandals weakens a government's cohesion. The Asahi Shimbun analyzed that the ill effects of “Takaichi's one-party dominance” have appeared and will affect how the Diet is run from here. Agricultural administration still faces wild swings in rice prices and responses to repeated disasters, and the absence of a minister in charge leads to policy stagnation (NHK). Because the resignation came before any legal assessment, the truth of the allegations still has to be established separately, through the judgment of the relevant authorities and explanations in the Diet.
The policies of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries bear on the price of rice, support for farmers and disaster response. What the successor prioritizes could spill over into the price of rice you buy at the supermarket and into farm support measures. Watch the announcement of the personnel decision on the 15th and the new minister's first press conference.
Resigning before the allegations spread, and moving Diet deliberations forward, was a sound decision. The prime minister also referred to responsibility for the appointment and is moving to pick a successor quickly.
It was effectively a dismissal, and the prime minister's decision came late. The Mainichi Shimbun reported that the delay widened the damage to the government and that criticism of its tardiness came from within the party too. It should not end with a resignation; the process behind the appointment and the allegations should be explained in the Diet.
Today's number is “First.” It is the first time under the Takaichi government that a cabinet minister has resigned over a scandal. There are three things to watch. How the successor, to be decided on the 15th, will face the challenges of farm policy. Whether the opposition widens its pursuit of responsibility for the appointment to other ministers, such as Education Minister Seki. Whether the suspicion of violating the Public Offices Election Act remains, even after the resignation, as a matter for the relevant authorities to judge. The question is whether the facts of the allegations are established, rather than letting a resignation close the matter.
NHK · Mainichi Shimbun · Jiji Press · Nikkei · Yomiuri Shimbun · Asahi Shimbun · The Japan Times (Oct. 14–15. Submission and acceptance of the resignation from NHK, Mainichi Shimbun, Jiji Press and Nikkei; less than 1 month from Nikkei and Yomiuri Shimbun; former staff testimony from Asahi Shimbun; on the successor, NHK says the prime minister plans to decide on the 15th and Mainichi Shimbun says it is being arranged. The aim at Education Minister Seki is from Jiji Press only)
Agriculture Minister Yana Submits Resignation, Prime Minister Accepts It; Less Than 1 Month After Taking Office, First Minister to Quit Over a Scandal in the Takaichi Cabinet
The government plans to decide on a successor on the 15th. Eight opposition groups in the House of Councillors had said they would file a censure motion if he did not resign. The prime minister said, “I take responsibility for the appointment very seriously,” and the opposition is preparing to hold the prime minister to account.
On the 14th, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Kazuo Yana submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, and the prime minister accepted it (NHK, Mainichi Shimbun, Jiji Press, Nikkei). It is the first time a cabinet minister has resigned over a scandal since the Takaichi government took office last October, and it came less than 1 month after the launch of the 2nd reshuffled cabinet (Nikkei, Yomiuri Shimbun). According to the Nikkei, Mr. Yana met the prime minister at the Prime Minister's Office and gave his reason for resigning: “I cannot cause any more trouble for Diet deliberations.” The problems were his “budget cut” remark about road budgets in his home prefecture of Tochigi, and the matter of shuttling supporters free of charge by shuttle bus in a past House of Representatives election. The latter is suspected of violating the Public Offices Election Act (Nikkei, Yomiuri Shimbun). The Asahi Shimbun carried testimony from several former staff members that they had made phone calls asking for votes in exchange for payment in Mr. Yana's elections. On that same 14th, asked about his future at the House of Representatives Budget Committee, Mr. Yana had just said, “I want to carry out my duties with all my might” (Mainichi Shimbun, Jiji Press).
After accepting the resignation, the prime minister said, “I take responsibility for the appointment very seriously,” and indicated he would announce a successor on the 15th (NHK). The Mainichi Shimbun reports that the successor is still being arranged. Before the resignation, eight opposition groups in the House of Councillors had told the Liberal Democratic Party they would file a censure motion if he did not resign (Asahi Shimbun, Mainichi Shimbun, Jiji Press). The city council of Nasukarasuyama, Mr. Yana's home city, has passed a resolution protesting the budget-cut remark (Jiji Press, Mainichi Shimbun, Asahi Shimbun). The opposition parties criticized the prime minister's responsibility in unison after the resignation, and Jiji Press reported that they are also taking aim at Education Minister Seki. The Asahi Shimbun analyzed that the ill effects of “Takaichi's one-party dominance” have appeared and will affect how the Diet is run from here. Whether the conduct amounts to a violation of the Public Offices Election Act has gone unanswered, since the prime minister said “the relevant authorities will decide,” and no conclusion has been reached (NHK, Mainichi Shimbun). The choice of a successor and the Diet debate over responsibility for the appointment will be the focus.