Hayashi Offers Keen Policy Eye In Return To Farm Minister Role

TOKYO, JAPAN - FEB. 23: Agriculture minister Koya Nishikawa resigned on Monday to take the blame for two political funds scandals in which he has been embroiled. "I submitted my letter of resignation," Nishikawa told reporters after meeting with Abe at the prime minister's office. "I cannot forgive myself for causing trouble to the Cabinet at a time when we are trying to reform the country's agriculture policy." Newly appointed Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi returns to the role bringing experience in a wide range of fields including the tax system, foreign affairs, defense and administrative reform. The 54-year-old Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker representing Yamaguchi Prefecture has entered the Cabinet for the fourth time, a rarity for a House of Councillors member. He was appointed farm minister in December 2012 and served in the post until last September, when he was succeeded by Koya Nishikawa. "I asked him to stay on and fulfill his duties but he did not budge over his determination to resign," Abe said, quoting Nishikawa as saying the only way out of the situation was to resign. Speaking at a press conference, new farm minister Hayashi expressed hope to seek passage of legislation to reform Japan's agriculture cooperatives before the current Diet session ends in June. "We will steadily proceed with legislative work and work to have (related legislation) passed during the current Diet session," Hayashi said. The legislative process came as the Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives, known as JA-Zenchu, accepted a government proposal in early February to give greater autonomy to local agricultural cooperative system. Hayashi also indicated a policy of cautiously negotiating on rice and other sensitive agricultural product categories in the TPP, saying, "Difficult issues remain to be resolved (in the talks)."