Japan's justice minister resigns over 'job is easy' gaffe

"I expressed my will to resign to the prime minister," Yanagida told reporters in a press conference, adding that Kan had accepted his offer.

Yanagida triggered a scandal by telling his supporters at the weekend that "being justice minister is easy as I only have to remember two phrases, either of which I can use in parliament whenever I'm stuck for an answer".

He then recited the sentences: "I refrain from commenting on individual cases" and "I am acting appropriately based on the law and evidence."