Japan Cabinet minister resigns over Unification Church ties

By MARI YAMAGUCHI
Associated Press

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s economy minister resigned over his ties to the Unification Church in a widening controversy involving dozens of governing party lawmakers. Daishiro Yamagiwa’s resignation is a further blow to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s government, which has been rocked by his party’s close ties to the controversial South Korean-based church. Kishida on Tuesday said he appointed former Health Minister Shigeyuki Goto to take Yamagiwa’s place. The Kishida government’s support ratings have nosedived over his handling of the scandal and for holding a highly unusual state funeral for divisive former leader Shinzo Abe, who was assassinated in July and had ties to the church. The church has faced accusations of brainwashing members into making huge donations to it.