Photo/Illutration Isshu Sugawara speaks with reporters on Oct. 25 in the Diet after submitting his resignation as economy minister to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. (Takeshi Iwashita)

After only a month in office, Isshu Sugawara, the economy minister, on Oct. 25 submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe amid gift-giving allegations laid out in a weekly magazine.

The Shukan Bunshun ran articles about Sugawara and his aides giving gifts in the form of expensive melons and crabs to constituents as well as monetary offerings during a recent wake.

Sugawara, 57, serving for the first time as a Cabinet minister, was chosen in the Cabinet reshuffle by Abe on Sept. 11.

Abe met with reporters on Oct. 25 and said he had accepted Sugawara's resignation.

"I bear responsibility for appointing him, and I would like to extend my deepest apology to the public for causing such a situation to arise," Abe said.

Sugawara also met with reporters and said he had resigned because he did not want any personal issues to disrupt Diet proceedings.

The opposition had demanded that Sugawara appear before the Lower House Economy, Trade and Industry Committee on Oct. 25 to address the allegations reported in the Shukan Bunshun articles. But that session was postponed after Sugawara submitted his resignation.

All other Diet sessions scheduled for the morning of Oct. 25 were suspended as well.

The Shukan Bunshun first reported in its Oct. 10 issue that Sugawara had handed out melons and crabs to supporters in 2006-07. Under the Public Offices Election Law, politicians are prohibited from giving anything of value to constituents in their district.

At that time, administration officials said Sugawara did not have to resign since the statute of limitations had expired.

However, in its Oct. 23 Internet edition, Shukan Bunshun reported that an aide to Sugawara made a monetary offering of 20,000 yen ($180) at a wake of a supporter in his district on Oct. 17.

Sugawara admitted on Oct. 25 that his aide made the offering.

He added that he attended the funeral on Oct. 18 and also made an offering. Sugawara explained that the bereaved family returned one of the offerings since there were two in his name.

Abe named Hiroshi Kajiyama, 64, to replace Sugawara.