Wow, that was quick!
Only one week after being appointed to the post of Agriculture Minister, Takehiko Endo submitted his resignation today to take responsibility for financial improprieties.
This is another big embarrassment for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government. He just reshuffled his cabinet last week in response to his party's resounding defeat in the July House of Councillors election. Endo was one of his new appointees.
Endo is the third Farm Minister to bow out in shame since Abe became Prime Minister last September. Toshikatsu Matsuoka ended up committing suicide in response to a political funds scandal, and his successor, Farm Minister Norihiko Akagi, was forced to resign over a separate scandal. Endo is the third Farm Minister to resign from the post in the last year.
Wait a minute, I thought that corruption was only a problem in developing countries!?!
