Japan's high-profile and telegenic industry minister on Monday resigned over claims she misused political funds, including to buy both votes and make-up, dealing a blow to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's gender reform drive.
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"It is not permissible for me as Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry to have economy and energy policies stalled because of my own problems," she said.
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"As a member of the Abe cabinet... I am sorry and offer my sincere apologies for having contributed nothing to economic revival, realisation of a society in which women shine and various other tasks," she said, before bowing deeply to the sound of hundreds of camera shutters.