Japanese minister quits over scandal

Japan's economy minister resigned on Thursday over a corruption scandal, dealing a blow to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as he looks to build support for a massive trade deal and changes to the country's constitution. Akira Amari's surprise resignation comes a week after the veteran politician was hit by claims in a weekly magazine that he and his staff had improperly accepted a 12 million yen ($101,000) bribe from a construction firm. On Thursday, Amari - the point man on a Pacific-wide free trade pact and a key face in Abe's bid to overcome Japan's decades-long economic malaise - apologized for the scandal but rejected claims he pocketed the money. "If that was true, it would have degraded my dignity not only as a politician but also as a person - I wouldn't possibly do it," the 66-year-old told a ­nationally televised news ­conference as he choked back tears. But "considering my responsibility as a member of parliament who has to oversee my secretaries, my duty as a cabinet member and pride as a politician, I will resign my post as of today." Amari admitted envelopes filled with cash had arrived at his office, but said he ordered his secretary to deal with some of the money according to political donation rules. He said the company refused to accept the return of some of the donations, and added that his secretary used about three million yen for "private use," without elaborating. Amari did not say how much was received in total. The Shukan Bunshun magazine said last week the ­construction company had sought Amari's help in settling problems with a quasi-public housing agency over damage caused by a road project. It cited a company official as saying the firm had wined and dined the minister's staff and had given them gifts and envelopes stuffed with cash, including­ handing a total of 1 million yen to Amari himself on two occasions. Last week, Amari acknowledged meeting with officials from the company, but said he could not recall the details. Nobuteru Ishishara - a one-time secretary-general of the ruling Liberal Democratic ­Party and son of a former Tokyo ­governor - was named Amari's successor. The resignation comes with Japan looking to kick-start its moribund economy, with ­Amari saying, "The economy is now on the verge of getting out of deflation after 15 years."