JAPAN: Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is reshaping his government in response to a major corruption scandal rocking Japan's ruling party, leading to the resignation of several ministers, including his close ally and government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno.

Matsuno, who held the position of Chief Cabinet Secretary, announced his resignation on Thursday, following the departure of Economy and Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura. Additionally, reports from Jiji Press and other Japanese media indicated that Internal Affairs Minister Junji Suzuki and Agriculture Minister Ichiro Miyashita were also stepping down, along with the dismissal of five deputy ministers.

All the ministers belong to the influential faction named after former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, known as the "Abe faction." This faction holds significant power within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

Allegations of a corruption scandal involving the faction have prompted Japanese prosecutors to initiate a criminal investigation. The accusations revolve around claims of approximately 500 million yen ($3.5 million) in fundraising proceeds missing from party accounts, as reported by various news outlets.

Amidst mounting pressure, Matsuno stated during a press conference, "In light of various allegations regarding political funds that have eroded public trust in politics, including those related to my own funds, I have submitted my resignation." Yoshimasa Hayashi, the former foreign minister, is set to replace Matsuno.

Kishida, addressing the scandal's impact, announced a government overhaul on Wednesday to contain the fallout. He expressed regret over the deepening political distrust caused by the scandal and pledged urgent measures to address it.

"We will confront the issues surrounding political funds directly... I am committed to making vigorous efforts to lead the LDP in rebuilding public trust," Kishida told reporters.

Investigations are expected to intensify next week, with reports suggesting that authorities will search lawmakers' offices for evidence. There are also indications of potential involvement of other LDP factions, including one previously led by Kishida until recently, according to the reports.

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