Key facts
- Japan's agriculture minister Kazuo Yana resigned on Wednesday.
- Yana's resignation follows criticism over remarks about cutting road funding for municipalities that did not support him.
- He had been in office for one month.
- Yana's departure is the first resignation from Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's cabinet.
- Opposition parties threatened to block debate on a sales tax legislation until Yana stepped down.
Japan's Agriculture Minister Kazuo Yana stepped down on Wednesday, becoming the first minister to resign from Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's government just a month after his appointment. Yana faced mounting criticism for remarks he made about cutting road funding for municipalities that did not support him in a parliamentary election. He confirmed the authenticity of an audio clip where he linked budget cuts in two towns to their support of a rival candidate, though he denied having the power to sway such decisions. The resignation comes as Takaichi's administration faces a critical parliamentary session, with opposition parties threatening to block debate on key policy goals, including a temporary sales tax cut on food and beverages, until Yana stepped down. An opinion poll indicated that 78% of respondents found Yana's explanation unacceptable, while support for Takaichi's cabinet remained elevated at 51%.