“I apologise for causing such a huge inconvenience to those involved,” Yana said to reporters after submitting his resignation on Wednesday. He said he made the move out of concern for holding up parliament and his ministerial duties. Yana declined to comment on how Takaichi had responded.

The prime minister had resisted earlier calls to have Yana step down over reports he claimed to have cut roadworks funding to municipalities that did not support him in February’s general election.