Diseased Agricultural Minister

[Mulboyne]

[floatr][/floatr]Scandal hit Farm Minister Norihiko Akag has recently appeared with plasters all over his face, leading reporters to speculate that the stress has caused him to break out in some kind of rash. When questioned, Akagi refused to comment, saying it was a private matter. Japanese report here.

[gkanai]

Another "winner" from the Abe camp. This administration can do no wrong.

[baka tono]

I thought he went hunting with Dick Cheney.

[Mulboyne]

Mainichi English Report

[succubusqueen]

Allergic to the job or to Abe!

[canman]

He is just screaming look at poor me, with all his bandages. I mean any self respecting person would try and use something that was far less obvious than what he has on. How about something skin toned, so that it doesn't stick out like a sore thumb. Oh wait, that is exactly what he is trying to do.

[Mulboyne]

[TennoChinko]

[floatr][/floatr]Scandal hit Farm Minister Norihiko Akag has recently appeared with plasters all over his face, leading reporters to speculate that the stress has caused him to break out in some kind of rash. When questioned, Akagi refused to comment, saying it was a private matter. Japanese report here.

Shit - look at the pic. Even Abe looks embarassed.

Either he did it to himself in a pathetic attempt to elicit sympathy, or his wife beat the shit out of him.

[amdg]

Maybe he's going for that ashita no joe look?

http://forum.nipogames.com/image.php?u=3237&dateline=1120771660
(Can't host images from work)

I hope he remembers how it all ends up though....

[Mulboyne]

A remarkable recovery.

[succubusqueen]

A remarkable recovery.

The scar on his forehead seems like he was "probed"....

[Tsuru]

Either that or someone took an electric drill to it

Doen't anyone else think this guy is a little young to be a minister?

[samuraiwig]

He may be a bit on the young side, but his choice of suit is obviously aimed at reeling in the oji-chan farmer vote.

[Doctor Stop]

He's got bad teeth. If anything, that qualifies him.

[Mulboyne]

[Mulboyne]

Kyodo via Japan Today: Another fund scandal involving Akagi comes to light

Farm minister Norihiko Agaki, who has been under fire over a political fund scandal, doubly booked nearly 200,000 yen in mail costs in 2003 by attaching photocopies of the same receipts to funds reports of two political organizations, the reports showed Friday. The agriculture, forestry and fisheries minister passed by a mob of waiting reporters at Narita airport without comment upon his return from a trip to China where he had been promoting sales of Japanese rice. Akagi went to a Tokyo hospital as he is feeling unwell, a ministry official said.

I'd be feeling a bit queasy too if I'd done something as stupid as that.

[Tsuru]

Wow, who's broad no.1?

-edit: Eriko Sato. Move along people.

[Mulboyne]

Akagi has just resigned.

[Captain Japan]

Scandal plagued Farm Minister Akagi resigns
Mainichi

Farm Minister Norihiko Akagi tendered his letter of resignation to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday, the minister said.

Akagi has been in hot water for naming his parents' home in Ibaraki Prefecture as the location of his political support group and chalking up utility expenses for years although the abode was apparently not used as an office.

Another of Akagi's support groups, which registered his wife's home in Tokyo as its office, has claimed expenses for some 17 years since he was first elected to the House of Representatives....more...

Wanted: politician, no experience necessary, only must have verifiable utility records.

[Captain Japan]

His face is already clearing up...

Japanese Agriculture Minister Norihiko Akagi is surrounded by reporters as he leaves his residence in Tokyo on Wednesday morning August 1, 2007. Japan's agriculture minister has stepped down, the chief government spokesman said Wednesday, amid growing criticism of the government following a major electoral defeat. (AP Photo/Kyodo News)