Japanese official resigns over G7 gaffe

TOKYO, Feb. 18 (UPI) -- Japanese Finance Minister Shoichi Nakagawa has submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Taro Aso following a gaffe at an international meeting.

The Yomiuri Shimbun reported Wednesday that Nakagawa submitted his resignation Tuesday over an incident at the Group of Seven finance ministers and central bank governors' meeting Saturday in Rome.

The newspaper said Nakagawa, 55, slurred his words and appeared to be dazed during a news conference following the meeting.

He later explained his behavior resulted from a side effect of cold medicine he took that day.

Kaoru Yosano, state minister in charge of economic and fiscal policy, will take over Nakagawa's duties, the newspaper reported.