A fresh scandal hit Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's troubled cabinet today.
Jinen Nagase
Today, Justice Minister Jinen Nagase said he had accepted money from a rural group that recruits foreign trainees for businesses last year after giving advice on visas. He later returned the funds, which he had seen as a donation.
"I usually accept money that's given to me to support me," Mr Nagase said. "I don't think the money is suspicious."
Mr Abe is struggling to keep his job as his support plummets after voters, outraged at scandals and bungled pension records, turned to the opposition, which now has control in the upper house following an election last month.
Mr Abe plans to reshuffle his cabinet after a string of scandals including a minister who killed himself and three others who were fired or quit, most of them for accusations of funding irregularities.
The prime minister, who took office last September, did not have to step down after the election defeat because his ruling coalition has a big majority in the more powerful lower chamber.
Mr Abe faces dwindling public support, however, and an uphill battle to pass legislation, including a law to extend support for US-led war efforts in Afghanistan.