Japan's foreign minister resigns amid scandal
Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara announces his resignation Sunday in Tokyo.
March 6th, 2011
09:28 AM ET

Japan's foreign minister resigns amid scandal

Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara announced his resignation Sunday, apologizing for a political scandal in which he's become embroiled.

"I'm apologizing to the people of Japan for this political uneasiness," Maehara said at a Tokyo news conference.

The foreign minister had been under scrutiny for a political contribution he received from a South Korean  in Japan. Under Japanese law, politicians cannot accept any money from foreigners. The money given to Maehara - 50,000 yen ($600) - came from a lifelong friend.

Maehara met with Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan to alert him of his decision and had the leader's consent to do so, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

Maehera had been in office for six months. He was appointed in September after the prime minister reshuffled his Cabinet to consolidate his power base after a landslide win to lead his party.

Maehara formerly was the minister for land, infrastructure, transport and tourism.

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Filed under: Japan
soundoff (29 Responses)
  1. RUFFNUTT

    600$ seems like not very much money..

    March 6, 2011 at 10:17 am | Report abuse |
  2. Mmmmm

    Pants on da ground(singing)
    Pants on da ground(singing)
    another dumb fool with his pants on da ground(singing)

    March 6, 2011 at 10:19 am | Report abuse |
  3. Cesar

    Beef & Broccoli Maehara, mmmm, I love Asian food only $600 a plate. It's a fund raiser for the foreign minister.

    March 6, 2011 at 11:00 am | Report abuse |
  4. Cesar

    Think HERSHEY'S CHOCOLATE WITH ALMONDS

    March 6, 2011 at 12:18 pm | Report abuse |
    • Mmmmm

      LOL cesuh-baby your wry humor has been duly noted...

      March 6, 2011 at 12:44 pm | Report abuse |
  5. Mary

    NO HERSHEY'S NO NUTS for me

    March 6, 2011 at 12:30 pm | Report abuse |
    • Mmmmm

      Finally figured you out... You're Mary Mary quite contrary, how does your garden grow?

      March 6, 2011 at 12:48 pm | Report abuse |
  6. Cesar

    @Mohamad: You are mine baby. I am a cannabol. I will go to Panama and cut you up, then skin you and cook you. I am sooo hungry foe human flesh.

    March 6, 2011 at 12:43 pm | Report abuse |
  7. Cesar

    @Mohamad: You are mine baby. I am a cannabol. I will go to Panama and cut you up, then skin you and cook you. I am sooo hungry for human flesh.

    March 6, 2011 at 12:43 pm | Report abuse |
  8. Mary

    to fake Cesar, why dont u go already, but i'm sure i will see u posting later this afternoon posting under the real Cesar's name

    March 6, 2011 at 12:48 pm | Report abuse |
  9. RUFFNUTT

    see.. he is another example.. they could have said he took a half-a-dozen hundred dollars...

    March 6, 2011 at 1:59 pm | Report abuse |
  10. Big Game James

    I remember when these blogs were informative and challenging. Now it seems to be a way for some posters to play online "footsies." They make CHAT rooms for that! More substance...please! The Dr Medhi guy is almost missed!

    March 6, 2011 at 2:13 pm | Report abuse |
  11. RUFFNUTT

    maybe if the stories were good.. take this one for example.. a polotician take money and get caught then resigns... they probably have a copy and fill in the blanks on the cnn computer for a story like this.. all they have to do is input the names and dollar amount...

    March 6, 2011 at 2:23 pm | Report abuse |
  12. Jeff Frank - Ohio

    Taking six dollars wouldn't be a lot of money either, until they get caught "taking" it and performing a "favor" for it.
    There's some serious jail time involved, which is probably why he resigned. Would be interesting knowing what kind
    of favor he was expected to do. Maybe they'll let him over here, and give him a job in Marysville, building Honda accords and crap. 🙂

    March 6, 2011 at 2:51 pm | Report abuse |
  13. RUFFNUTT

    half a dozen dollars wold only get you a small value meal at mickey d's...

    March 6, 2011 at 4:13 pm | Report abuse |
  14. Perfected sharia worldwide

    obviously we need twenty four hour open camera access media coverage in all jails state..local and federal. This way all former nuns can be heard explaining the vows and we can learn more about the true american values as claimed. Imagine what benefit this provides an army dominated democracy of little or no government obstructions. More freedom please.

    March 6, 2011 at 5:27 pm | Report abuse |
  15. John Galt

    Sad a mans career is ended for such a small thing. I am sure there are people out there with millions in hidden cash. This sounds like a gift..

    March 6, 2011 at 6:19 pm | Report abuse |
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