Takaichi continues to fend off questions about scandal-hit farm minister

Agriculture Minister Kazuo Yana attends an Upper House plenary session in Tokyo on Thursday. | JIJI

Oct 8, 2026

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi continued to fend off questions in parliament about agriculture minister Kazuo Yana on Thursday, as opposition lawmakers called for an investigation into his controversial budget cut remarks.

Yana is under fire for saying he had slashed the road budgets for two Tochigi Prefecture municipalities whose leaders refused to support him during an election. He has since apologized and retracted those remarks, but the criticism continues.

While Takaichi acknowledged the inappropriateness of Yana’s comments, she said that there was no need for further investigation and that he had her support.

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