Japan's trade minister Isshu Sugawara resigned Friday, little more than a month after taking the post, amid allegations that his office offered money and gifts to supporters in violation of the country's election law.The resignation is a setback for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, whose administration has lost a number of Cabinet ministers to scandals. Hiroshi Kajiyama, a former minister in charge of regional revitalization, was chosen to replace Sugawara.Abe told reporters he accepted Sugawara's offer to step down, saying "the responsibility lies with me for having appointed him."With oppositio…READ FULL ARTICLE
