Davin blog

Japan's justice minister to step down over gaffe: media

TOKYO (AFP) – Japan's Justice Minister Minoru Yanagida will step down after he caused outrage by saying his job was easy, public broadcaster NHK and other media reported Monday.

Yanagida visited Prime Minister Naoto Kan's office early Monday, where he was "seen to be expressing his will to resign," NHK said.

After finishing talks with Kan, Yanagida told reporters "I'll tell you later" when asked if he had told Kan he would step down, Jiji Press said.

Last weekend Yanagida told supporters in his Hiroshima constituency that "being justice minister is easy as I only have to remember two phrases, either of which I can use in parliament whenever I'm stuck for an answer".

He then recited the sentences: "I refrain from commenting on individual cases" and "I am acting appropriately based on the law and evidence."

The conservative opposition has reportedly planned a censure motion against Yanagida, which would be non-binding but would deal a blow to Kan's cabinet, whose public support has plunged below 30 percent over its handling of the ailing economy and territorial rows with China and Russia.

Yanagida has repeatedly apologised to parliament and the main opposition group, the Liberal Democratic Party, whose lawmakers have lashed out at his remarks, saying they were disrespectful of the Diet legislature.