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Japanese Reconstruction Minister Ryu Matsumoto resigns

July 5, 2011

Japanese Reconstruction Minister Ryu Matsumoto resigns just a week into office. It dealt another blow to PM Naoto Kan, who had picked Ryu Matsumoto for the post tasked with rebuilding disaster-hit areas.

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Reconstruction Minister Ryu Matsumoto resigned just a week after assuming the newly created post
Reconstruction Minister Ryu Matsumoto resigned just a week after assuming the newly created postImage: picture alliance/dpa

Beleaguered Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan took another blow on Tuesday when his reconstruction minister resigned after barely a week in the job over criticism for remarks that offended victims of the March earthquake and tsunami. On Tuesday, Matsumoto said he was stepping down "for my own reasons," but apologized to those in the disaster zone for the tone of his remarks.


The outcry among opposition parties over Ryu Matsumoto's comments had threatened to further hinder the unpopular Kan's efforts to pass key bills in a divided parliament as Japan tries to rebuild from the disasters and end a nuclear crisis.

Naoto Kan's government has been harshly criticized for its slow response to the reconstruction in the wake of the March disaster
Naoto Kan's government has been harshly criticized for its slow response to the reconstruction in the wake of the March disasterImage: AP


Government under fire

Analysts said the government probably hoped that Matsumoto's quick resignation would avoid further deadlock over a 25 billion dollar extra budget to aid disaster-hit areas and a compensation scheme for victims of the nuclear crisis at Tokyo Electric Power's tsunami crippled nuclear power plant in north-eastern Japan.

But the furore over Matsumoto, who was also doubling as environment minister, could put added pressure on the prime minister to step down himself. Opposition parties have blamed Kan for appointing Matsumoto and renewed their call for the premier to step down. Kan said in early June that he would resign once his government has dealt with the aftermath of the disaster. Critics have said he appears to be making every effort to cling to power. His government has been harshly criticized for its slow response to the reconstruction in the wake of the March disaster, which left 15,529 dead and 7,098 missing.

Reuters, dpa