Joke forces Japan minister to resign

Japan's justice minister resigned today after he joked about answering questions in parliament.

Minoru Yanagida said he only needed two comments: "I do not comment on specific cases" and "We are dealing with the matter appropriately based on law and evidence."

"It is my fault I made those imprudent comments, and I must apologise deeply," he said.

The main opposition party had been preparing a censure motion against him and threatening to boycott parliamentary deliberations on Japan's budget if he did not quit.

Chief cabinet secretary Yoshito Sengoku will take over as justice minister until a new candidate is found.

"Our Cabinet will buckle down and sincerely respond to parliamentary affairs so that we will not repeat a similar problem," he said.

Support for the government has dropped from 49 per cent to 26 per cent over the past month.