Japan's justice minister has resigned weeks after taking office citing ill health, amid a scandal over alleged ties to an organised crime group.
Keishu Tanaka, 74, only assumed the post on 1 October. He was hospitalised on Friday for chest pains.
Calls for him to step down mounted amid questions over political funding and his role in a gangster wedding.
His resignation is another setback for Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, whose poll figures are plummeting.
Mr Tanaka had been justice minister for just over three weeks, following a cabinet reshuffle by Mr Noda aimed at revitalising his cabinet in the face of poor poll numbers.
He has admitted he acted as a matchmaker - a ceremonial role - at a gangster's wedding and attended a party thrown by a "yakuza" crime group boss.
But he said he was not aware of either individual's yakuza links at the time of the event, which took place 30 years ago.
Ignorance is a blissful state of mind for Keishu Tanaka. It's not like one can't spot a Yakuza from 300 meters.
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