Japan minister quits over gaffe
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's new government suffered a blow yesterday after just eight days in office when the trade minister resigned over gaffes on the sensitive topic of radiation from the tsunami-hit Fukushima plant.
Hachiro submitted his resignation to Noda after reports that he joked with a reporter about radiation from the tsunami-crippled Fukushima nuclear plant, Jiji news agency and other domestic media reported. It was his second remark seen as offensive to victims of the worst nuclear accident in 25 years.
The resignation of Trade Minister Yoshio Hachiro, who handles the energy portfolio, will give opposition parties ammunition for attack as Noda strives to end the radiation crisis at the Fukushima plant.
Japanese media said Hachiro had attempted to rub up against a reporter saying "I'll give you radiation" after visiting the Fukushima plant on Thursday.
Opposition party leaders criticised the remark and said that they would press Noda himself over his responsibility for appointing Hachiro, NHK public TV reported.
Hachiro had already been rebuked by Noda and apologised on Friday for calling the deserted area near the plant a "town of death," a comment seen as offensive to disaster victims.
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