Justice Minister Hanashi submits letter of resignation

The Yomiuri Shimbun

17:27 JST, November 11, 2022

Justice Minister Yasuhiro Hanashi submitted his letter of resignation to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the Prime Minister’s Office Friday afternoon. Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Kishida, Hanashi explained the reason for his resignation by saying: “I used the term ‘death penalty’ too lightly. I have caused discomfort among the public and affected the Diet schedule.”

Hanashi had been under fire over remarks he made at a political gathering on Wednesday, saying, “Justice minister is an obscure role that only makes headlines in the news after [an order to execute] a death penalty has been stamped in the morning.”