Politics · Japan · 54 mins ago
Japan's Takaichi plans to replace agriculture minister Kazuo Yana
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi plans to replace Agriculture Minister Kazuo Yana amid mounting scrutiny of his conduct.
Yana has faced criticism over remarks that road budgets were cut for two municipalities whose mayors backed his election rival; he later withdrew the remarks and apologized.
A separate dispute concerns free bus rides for election supporters, which may have breached Japan's election law.
Yana first said his campaign had checked the arrangement with election officials, but later said staff may only have asked how to record the costs.
The legality of the bus rides has not been established, and Takaichi has said she would not hesitate to remove him if a violation is found.
The planned replacement follows pressure over both issues, including opposition parties considering a censure motion against Yana.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said she would not hesitate to dismiss Agriculture Minister Kazuo Yana if his conduct is found to have violated the law.
The dispute concerns free shuttle bus rides for Yana’s supporters during election campaigns and his remarks about cutting road budgets for two municipalities.
Yana said his staff may have asked how to record the bus costs, but he revised his earlier account that electoral authorities had confirmed the arrangement was lawful.
Takaichi said she could not determine whether the bus arrangement was illegal and wanted Yana to explain the facts.
One report said Takaichi had decided to replace Yana, while other reports described his future as still under consideration.
- Who
- Agriculture Minister Kazuo Yana and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
- What
- Takaichi is weighing Yana’s future amid allegations involving free election-campaign bus rides and remarks about cutting road budgets.
- When
- October 14, 2026. Takaichi said she would consider dismissal if illegality is found.
- Where
- Japan, including proceedings in the National Diet.
- Why
- The bus rides may have violated the Public Offices Election Act, and Yana’s account of whether electoral authorities approved them changed.
Kazuo Yana
Tochigi Prefectural Election Management Committee
Legality of free bus rides
Kazuo Yana
Yana said the arrangement was not a provision of benefits or donations and that it was handled appropriately under the law.
Tochigi Prefectural Election Management Committee
The committee said it would not tell someone that such an arrangement was lawful and would instead advise them to refrain.
What was checked
Kazuo Yana
Yana said he had been told staff checked with the election committee before booking buses. He later said they may have asked how to record the expenses.
Tochigi Prefectural Election Management Committee
The committee said it had no record of an inquiry and denied telling Yana’s staff that the arrangement was not a problem.
Yana’s supporters were transported by free shuttle bus during a lower house election campaign, according to reports.
Media reports said Yana had told supporters in May that road budgets were cut for two municipalities whose mayors supported his rival.
Takaichi said she spoke with Yana by phone about the shuttle-bus issue.
Yana revised his account of whether staff had checked the legality of the bus arrangement with local electoral authorities.
- Minister
- Kazuo Yana
- Prime minister
- Sanae Takaichi
- Election
- February 2026 lower house election
- Bus expense
- About 230,000 yen, according to TV Asahi
- Municipalities named in budget remarks
- Nasukarasuyama City and Nakagawa Town, Tochigi Prefecture
33 sources
Fallout of scandal-hit minister’s exit to linger in Japan Diet, haunt PM: Analysts
道路予算カット発言にシャトルバス…疑惑噴出の簗農相が辞表を提出､高市政権初の不祥事交代で問われる首相の任命責任 | 政治・経済・投資 | 東洋経済オンライン
高市総理「任命責任を重く受け止めている」簗氏に辞任後も説明責任果たすよう求める（テレビ朝日系（ANN））
تاكايتشي تواجه اختبار الإنتاجية و«أزمة حكومية»
高市首相が記者団にコメント 簗農水相が辞表提出（2026年10月14日掲載）
Embattled Japan farm minister Yana resigns over controversies
簗農相が首相に辞意伝達
Scandal-hit agriculture minister Yana announces resignation
高市首相 “簗農相は納得が得られる説明できておらず残念”
「不適切でダサい」予算委で簗大臣追及 「逆らったら許さない」 生みの親が語る素顔
Farm chief appears to backtrack on legality issue over free voter bus rides
きょうにも進退判断へ 簗農水大臣が無料バス送迎問題で答弁修正 高市総理「法令違反と判断した時は人事上も躊躇しない」
簗農相「予算カット」発言に宮崎県の町長が抗議声明「特定の自治体だけの問題ではない」
高市総理「続投」一転「考える」 簗大臣の進退は 追及次々“予算カット”発言に無料シャトルバス…「箇所付けシリーズ」SNSでアピールも【news23】
簗農相「発言不適切だった」 衆院予算委、予算減額の働きかけは否定
What people are saying
will not hesitate
no provision of benefits or donations