Japan’s Farm Minister Resigns Amid Vote-Buying Allegations, Dealing Blow to Takaichi
Japan’s agriculture minister, Kazuo Yana, announced his resignation Wednesday evening following a string of scandals, becoming the first minister to step down over controversy during Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s year-old administration.
Yana had faced mounting calls to resign after local media reported he claimed to have cut roadworks funding to municipalities that didn’t support him in February’s general election, a claim that drew criticism over the use of public infrastructure spending as political leverage.
The pressure intensified further after reports surfaced that Yana had arranged for buses to transport people to an election kickoff rally, a move that could potentially run afoul of Japan’s strict election laws if deemed an attempt to effectively buy attendance or support.
Takaichi had initially resisted calls to remove Yana, saying as recently as this week that she intended to keep him in her cabinet and planned to meet with him Wednesday to discuss the matter directly, a stance that made his eventual resignation the same day a notable reversal.
The resignation represents a setback for Takaichi, who has worked to present her administration as scandal-free during its first year in office, and raises questions about how she will manage cabinet reshuffling pressure going forward as she looks to stabilize her government.
The episode underscores the political sensitivity in Japan around any perceived misuse of public funds or resources for electoral advantage, an issue that has toppled officials in past administrations and now adds to the list of challenges facing Takaichi as she works to consolidate her premiership.
