ArrowArtboardCreated with Sketch.Title ChevronTitle ChevronIcon FacebookIcon LinkedinIcon Mail ContactPath LayerIcon MailPositive ArrowIcon Print
Politics

Rapid-fire resignations show Abe is losing his touch

Gaffes and scandals bring concern about personnel choices back to the fore

Katsuyuki Kawai stepped down as Japan's justice minister on Thursday, less than a week after Isshu Sugawara's resignation as trade minister. (Photos by Uichiro Kasai and Kai Fujii)

TOKYO -- The resignation of two cabinet members in a week and a string of gaffes by other ministers suggest Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government may be turning careless and even smug under his third term.

Abe accepted the resignation of Justice Minister Katsuyuki Kawai on Thursday, shortly after the Shukan Bunshun weekly magazine reported allegations of election law violations by Kawai and his wife, a lawmaker in Abe's Liberal Democratic Party.

Sponsored Content

About Sponsored Content This content was commissioned by Nikkei's Global Business Bureau.

Discover the all new Nikkei Asia app

  • Take your reading anywhere with offline reading functions
  • Never miss a story with breaking news alerts
  • Customize your reading experience

Nikkei Asian Review, now known as Nikkei Asia, will be the voice of the Asian Century.

Celebrate our next chapter
Free access for everyone - Sep. 30

Find out more