Nakayama resigns as transport minister following gaffes

TOKYO, Sept. 28 Kyodo - New transport minister Nariaki Nakayama resigned Sunday following a series of verbal gaffes, in a move that could deliver a blow to Prime Minister Taro Aso's just-launched administration as it seeks an early House of Representatives
election.

Apparently to settle the issue swiftly, Aso apologized to the public and
admitted he bears responsibility for appointing the 65-year-old Nakayama, while
naming former administrative reform minister Kazuyoshi Kaneko, 65, as his
successor.
While Aso is seeking to enact a supplementary budget for the current fiscal
year before calling an election, the incident may trigger calls from the ruling
parties for an earlier election so as not to give time for the opposition
parties to attack them during the ongoing extraordinary Diet session.
''His remarks were very inappropriate. It's extremely regrettable,'' Aso told
reporters in the evening, referring to Nakayama's controversial remarks which
included calling Japan ''ethnically homogenous.''
''I'd like to sincerely apologize to the public and people concerned,'' the
prime minister added.
After resigning, Nakayama said at a press conference that he stepped down so
that the issue would not hinder proceedings in the ongoing Diet session, which
started Wednesday.
Kaneko was initially expected to assume the post of the land, infrastructure,
transport and tourism minister by undergoing an attestation ceremony later
Sunday, but the ceremony was postponed to Monday, political sources said.
Kaneko is in his seventh term in the lower house and served as state minister
in charge of administrative reform from 2003 to 2004.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura said in a news conference in the morning
that Nakayama's resignation was unavoidable considering the comments and
subsequent developments.
The government's top spokesman also said it would be ''telling a lie if I say
there will be no damage'' to the administration and vowed to make every effort
to restore public confidence.
Earlier in the day, Hiroyuki Hosoda, secretary general of the ruling Liberal
Democratic Party, said Aso ''bears responsibility'' for appointing Nakayama as
a Cabinet minister.
The opposition bloc is poised to question the Aso administration in sessions of
parliament.
Ichiro Ozawa, president of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan, said
in a news conference Sunday in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, ''The responsibility of
Prime Minister Taro Aso is significant,'' adding that a general election should
be held to seek the public's response.
Hisaoki Kamei, secretary general of the tiny opposition People's New Party,
urged the prime minister to apologize, saying, ''The prime minister, who
appointed him, should honestly say, 'I was wrong.'''
Aso appointed Nakayama as transport minister in his Cabinet formed Wednesday
after assuming the premiership the same day.
In subsequent media interviews, Nakayama said Japan is ''ethnically
homogenous,'' called those who have engaged in years of struggle against the
construction of Narita airport ''squeaky wheels,'' and disparaged the Japan
Teachers' Union.
On Friday, Nakayama apologized for his remarks following criticism by lawmakers
not only from the ruling but also from the opposition bloc as well as groups
concerned, including the Ainu indigenous people.
But he blasted the teachers' union again on Saturday, calling it ''a cancer,''
and said he did not ''cling'' to the Cabinet post.
At Sunday's news conference, Nakayama said he does not intend to retract his
remark about the teachers' union because he wanted to draw attention to the
union issue and made the comment fully prepared to resign.
==Kyodo