Tokyo - Japan's farm minister resigned on Monday after being accused of accepting illegal political funds, in a first blow to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's new cabinet.
Agriculture, forestry and fisheries Minister Koya Nishikawa submitted a letter of resignation to Abe, which was accepted.
"Minister Nishikawa's intention is firm. As he said, parliamentary time, which should be used for policy deliberation, should not be wasted on his particular problems," Abe told reporters.