Yamagiwa became the first minister of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s government to step down over the scandal.

Yamagiwa was appointed to this position in October 2021 and oversaw Covid-19 measures and Kishida’s flagship “new capitalism” policies. He also served as start-up minister.

The minister’s ties with the church has been under scrutiny.

Last week, Yamagiwa admitted that in 2019 he was photographed with Hak Ja Han, who has headed the Unification Church since its founder and her late husband Sun Myung Moon died in 2012.

Kishida’s Cabinet is fast losing popularity as ties between policymakers of his ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the church become clearer.

The approval rate for Kishida’s Cabinet has fallen to 27.4%, into the “danger zone” below the 30% mark, where leaders could find it hard to maintain power, according to an opinion poll conducted Oct 7-10 by Jiji press.