Tokyo Gov Masuzoe resigns after funds scandal

The ongoing funds scandal involved Masuzoe using around 450,000 yen (4,239 U.S. dollars) from his now defunct political funds body to pay for accommodation and dining expenses for a trip he made with his family to a luxury hotel in the New Year holiday season.

He has also been accused of taking multiple trips overseas since he became governor in 2014, to the tune of 200 million yen (1.88 million US dollars), and has faced accusations of commandeering government vehicles for his own use to visit his villa at a hot spring resort just outside Tokyo as many as 50 times, all at the taxpayer's cost.

Allegations levied against Masuzoe, who is known for his lavish lifestyle, also claim he improperly used funds to purchase expensive art, books and clothing, causing further indignation from taxpayers here.

The fourth minister of Abe's to quit was former Economy and Fiscal Policy Minister Akira Amari who was forced to step down in January for his involvement in a bribery scandal involving him providing special political favors to a construction company in return for free entertainment, gifts and millions of yen in cash.

Amari had brokered Japan's involvement in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) in his concurrent role as Economic Revitalization Minister in charge of the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

While Masuzoe himself is not a minister, the frequency of money scandals involving government officials paints a negative image of politics in Japan and the public's indignation at the latest scandal will almost certainly have a bearing on this summer's upper house elections and may play well into the hands of a recently united opposition camp.

The opposition camp are are gearing up to try and oust the ruling bloc and the prime minister for his economic policy incompetence and to thwart the leader's plans to fully remilitarize the nation by way of a controversial amendment to the pacifist constitution following a possible referendum on the matter.