Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda on Thursday acknowledged his responsibility for appointing Yoshio Hachiro, who stepped down within days of becoming trade minister to atone for a verbal gaffe, and vowed to strive to regain public trust.
"I am truly disappointed that a minister resigned after making statements that lacked consideration for the feelings of the disaster victims," Noda said during a plenary session of the Upper House.
"I, as the prime minister, of course bear responsibility for his appointment and I will vow once again that the Cabinet will unite to regain the trust we have lost and strive to resolve the nuclear power plant accident and support disaster victims."