AKIPRESS.COM - Japan's trade minister resigned Monday and reports said the justice minister would also quit amid allegations of misuse of campaign funds, in the biggest setbacks so far for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's conservative administration, reports Associated Press.

Yuko Obuchi, daughter of a former prime minister and a rising star in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, resigned as trade minister, saying she needed to focus on an investigation into discrepancies in accounting for election funds. She did not acknowledge any wrongdoing.

National broadcaster NHK and other Japanese media said Justice Minister Midori Matsushima also planned to resign after the opposition Democratic Party of Japan filed a criminal complaint against her.

Obuchi and Matsushima are among five women Abe named to his Cabinet in a reshuffle early last month, part of his effort to promote women in politics and business. Scandals over campaign funding and other activities by those politicians have marred his efforts to raise the profile of women both in politics and business.

Obuchi told reporters that the investigation into the allegations would interfere with her duties as minister of economy, trade and industry, which include overseeing the cleanup and decommissioning of the wrecked Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant.

"I take seriously the impact I have caused," Obuchi said. "My heart is pained by this."

"I apologize for not being able to make any contributions as a member of the Abe Cabinet in achieving key policy goals, including the economic recovery and a society where women shine," Obuchi said.