Sugawara was only Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry for a month and a half as he resigned from his position.

Japan’s Public Offices Election Laws prohibit politicians from giving gifts or money to constitutions.

This put the Liberal Democratic Party in a tricky situation, as they were already involved in similar scandals with former ministers.

The day after Sugawara removed himself from the Liberal Democratic Party, he was pushed to resign from Minister of Economy Trade and Industry to allow Parliament discussions to continue.

At first, the prosecutors at the Tokyo Summary Court did not indict Sugawara because he stepped down as Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry and apologized.