Opposition Leader Also Quits in Pension Scandal

The leader of Japan’s biggest opposition party resigned his post in the wake of his admission late last month that he, like seven members of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi’s Cabinet, had skipped payments into the state pension scheme.

“My failure to pay into the pension system increased mistrust and created huge headaches for the public and for members of our party, and for that my responsibility is huge,” Democratic Party chief Naoto Kan said. Top government spokesman Yasuo Fukuda quit Friday after a similar confession.