Japan farm minister retracts controversial budget remarks, makes apology

TOKYO - Japanese Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Kazuo Yana on Monday retracted recently revealed past remarks he made on local road budget cuts that suggested he was able to exert unfair political pressure over budget allocations, apologizing for the comments.

But Yana told reporters in Tokyo that he does not intend to step down from his post, saying that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi had told him to "do your utmost" in the position. He is known as Takaichi's right-hand man on agricultural policy.