Two Japanese ministers resign amid rows

Japan's new trade and industry minister, Yuko Obuchi, quit over a funding scandal on Monday and the justice minister Midori Matsushima resigned after being accused of violating electoral laws, dealing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe his biggest setback since taking office in 2012.

The resignations of the two ministers could complicate tough decisions on key policies, including whether to go ahead with an unpopular plan to raise the national sales tax and planned restarts of nuclear reactors that were shut down after the 2011 Fukushima disaster.

Abe hopes to contain the damage with swift replacements, but the opposition is looking for other potentially vulnerable ministers also appointed in an early September cabinet reshuffle. Further resignations could raise doubts about Abe's own future, some political experts said.

Trade and industry Minister Yuko Obuchi, 40, the daughter of a prime minister and tipped as a future contender to become Japan's first female premier, told a news conference she was resigning after allegations that her support groups misused political funds.

Just hours later, Justice Minister Midori Matsushima also resigned. The opposition Democratic Party had filed a criminal complaint against Matsushima, accusing her of violating the election law by distributing paper fans to voters.

Obuchi and Matsushima were two of five women appointed by Abe in the cabinet reshuffle less than two months ago - a move intended to boost his popularity and show his commitment to promoting women as part of his "Abenomics" strategy to revive the economy.

"I appointed them and as prime minister, I bear responsibility," Abe told reporters at his office. "I deeply apologize to the people of the nation." Abe added he wanted to pick successors for the two posts within the day.

As head of the powerful Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Obuchi, a telegenic mother of two, was tasked with selling Abe's unpopular plan to restart nuclear reactors to a wary public worried about safety.

"We cannot let economic policy and energy policy stagnate at METI because of my problems, so I will resign my position," a solemn Obuchi told a nationally televised news conference, bowing deeply in apology.

The departures are the first cabinet resignations for Abe, who took office in December 2012 for a rare second term, promising to revive Japan's stalled economy and strengthen its security stance to cope with challenges such as a rising China.