Fukushiro Nukaga, state minister in charge of economic and fiscal affairs came under growing pressure Saturday to resign for accepting funds from the scandal-hit industrial insurance foundation KSD and is receiving little support from his Liberal Democratic Party colleagues.
Nukaga reportedly told people close to him Saturday morning that he has no intention of stepping down, adding that he will clear himself of suspicions surrounding the KSD money when the Diet opens for its regular session on Jan. 31.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said later Saturday that the situation is not so serious that it requires Nukaga to resign from the Cabinet.