Nine lawmakers of the Democratic Party of Japan submitted their resignations from the party Wednesday to protest a planned consumption tax hike and other policies of the administration of Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda.
Akira Uchiyama, a former parliamentary secretary of the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry who was elected three times as a House of Representatives member from Chiba Constituency No. 7, and eight other lower house members handed their resignation letters to Shinji Tarutoko, the DPJ's acting secretary general, at the Diet Building.
The rift in the ruling party that led the nine to leave is likely to deal a blow to Noda's handling of the government. (Yomiuri)
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