Japan election claims first cabinet casualty

---

TOKYO, Aug 1 (AFP): Japan's farm minister resigned Wednesday, the first casualty in Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's scandal-plagued cabinet after a major election defeat that has raised calls for a change in government.
Abe has defied opinion polls that say many voters want him to quit as well, arguing that Sunday's election blow showed anger over the scandals surrounding his administration but not his conservative agenda.
Farm minister Norihiko Akagi, 48, becomes one of the shortest-serving members of a Japanese cabinet in memory. He took office just two months ago after his predecessor killed himself amid a funding scandal.
But in his short time in office Akagi was embroiled in his own set of money troubles, raising further questions about Abe's choice of ministers.
"There were various reports about me during the upper house election campaign. It is an undisputed fact that these were partly responsible for the defeat of the ruling coalition," Akagi said after resigning.
Akagi also attracted unwanted attention 10 days before the election when he showed up at a cabinet meeting with large bandages covering his face.
He said he had a skin irritation, but media ridiculed him, saying that -- like Abe's cabinet -- he looked beaten up.