Japan minister resigns after Unification Church scrutiny

Japan's Economy Minister Daishiro Yamagiwa is surrounded by reporters at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo, Monday, Oct. 24, 2022. Yamagiwa on Monday said he submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Fumio Kishdia over his ties to the Unification Church after facing mounting criticisms that he lacked explanations in a widening controversy that has involved dozens of other party lawmakers and rocked Kishida’s government.(Kyodo News via AP)

Tokyo (AFP): A Japanese minister resigned on Monday following allegations over his ties to the Unification Church, which is under renewed scrutiny after the assassination of former prime minister Shinzo Abe.

Daishiro Yamagiwa, minister for economic revitalisation, said he did not want the allegations to "affect the parliamentary debate", without naming the church.