Tokyo defends underfire industry minister as he admits breaking funding rules

Tokyo has defended its under-fire industry minister as he faced fresh questions over political funding, which followed a bondage-bar scandal and criticism over an investment in the crippled Fukushima atomic plant's operator.

Japan's usually staid political scene has been left reeling from the S&M club scandal and the resignations of two other newly appointed cabinet ministers who quit last week in the wake of misspending accusations.

The double resignations marked the first significant blow to the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe since he swept to power in December 2012, and have dented his popularity according to a poll.

Yesterday, industry minister Yoichi Miyazawa - who took the job less than a week ago when his predecessor Yuko Obuchi stepped down in disgrace - admitted that his office broke funding rules by accepting 400,000 yen (HK$28,000) from a company majority owned by foreign investors. "I didn't know at all that the majority of the firm's shareholders were foreigners," Miyazawa said.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, the Japanese government's top spokesman, brushed aside the funding questions.

"I see no problem at all, as he gave back the money when he learned [about the shareholders]", he said.

Japan's political funding law bans donations from foreigners or foreign-controlled firms. It carries a penalty of three years in prison or up to a 500,000 yen fine.