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Pair of Japanese ministers resign amid accusations of financial impropriety

Experts predict resignations will damage Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's already struggling approval rating.

By Matt Bradwell
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. UPI/Keizo Mori
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. UPI/Keizo Mori | License Photo

TOKYO, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his administration are dealing with political fallout, as two top ranking ministers were forced to resign in quick succession amid accusations of financial impropriety.

Elected in 2012, Abe's administration openly prioritized appointing women to top cabinet positions, a cultural shift in Japanese government expected to damage Shinzo's popularity in light of the developing scandal.

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Minister of Economy Yuko Obuchi resigned Monday amid allegations lobbyist and political support groups backing her agenda embezzled the equivalent of hundreds of thousands of dollars to take over 2,000 female supporters on vacations and leisure trips.

"I'd like to apologize for not being able to do anything for many challenges facing the Abe cabinet, including promoting the role of women in society and restarting nuclear power plants," Obuchi said in a statement.

Hours later, Justice Minister Midori Matsushima also resigned violating Japanese election law by distributing 22,000 handheld paper fans to members of her constituency.

"The resignations will cause big damage," Kazumasa Oguro, associate economics professor at Hosei University, told the Wall Street Journal. Abe's approval rating dropped from 55 percent to 48 since mid-September.

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