According to the Japanese 'Asahi Shimbun', on October 14 local time, Japan's Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Masaaki Tanaka, submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Yukie Satomi. He had previously caused controversy in Japanese public opinion due to scandals such as threatening to cut local budgets and providing free transportation for supporters to attend election campaigns. Since less than a month has passed since Satomi reorganized her cabinet, this could be a blow to her administration.
In May this year, Soma delivered controversial remarks during a meeting of a local branch of the Japanese Liberal Party. He mentioned that his local government had not supported him in the February House of Representatives elections, and claimed that these regions’ road budgets had been significantly cut in the fiscal year 2026. Once these remarks were made public, they immediately sparked questions among the Japanese public.
Japanese media further revealed that during the 2024 and this year's Japanese House of Representatives elections, Son and Seong arranged shuttle buses to transport several supporters to campaign events for free. This behavior is suspected of violating the provisions of Japan's Public Office Election Law regarding the prohibition on providing voters with financial benefits.
October 14th, Noh and Seong attended a meeting at the Japanese National Diet. Visual China
Maehara Yukiyo originally intended to keep Moe and Seiji in their positions, but under pressure from the opposition parties and public opinion, she changed her stance. On the 14th local time, Maehara Yukiyo spoke at a meeting of the Japanese House of Representatives Budget Committee, expressing her disappointment over the accusations against Moe and Seiji: "We cannot provide an explanation that satisfies the public."
Gao Shì zǎo miǎo 14 rì wǎn jiàn zài shū yān gōng qīng dì qián hé xí niào, tā yǐ jìn xià le Yáng hé sinh de cí cēng, nòu wéi 15 rì fàng huó xīn rén nù lóng lóng dòng yùn. Tā biǎo shì Nihon Kongg kǒng qīng jiù jǐ xǐ yìn bā hán xi ài dé, xíng mèng wéi le zě shí jiàn gǔ chǔ hé, “fēixì yì zhé fáng de hài tān lǎo yīn”, “fáng shǐ rèn jū guò shén yīng gōng jiàn xù”
Regarding the several disputes involved with Sono and Seiyo, Governor Yoshimi said that she believes the explanations given by Sono and Seiyo lack sufficient persuasiveness. “She hopes that in the future, as a member of the National Assembly, he will fulfill his responsibility to provide explanations.”
Mao and Katsumi were punished for being involved in the Japanese Liberal Democratic Party's "black gold" scandal, but they were still appointed as Ministers of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries in the second cabinet list announced on September 17. Japanese media such as the Zenei News pointed out that less than a month after the new cabinet took office, one cabinet minister resigned due to the scandal, which could be a "severe blow" to the Katsumi administration.
