Reconstruction Minister Matsumoto resigns.
Prime Minister admits responsibility for appointment and apologizes.
July 6, 2011, Tokyo, Japan - Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan, standing in foreground, answers to an opposition lawmaker as the stalled Diet session resumes deliberation in the lower house in Tokyo on Wednesday, July 06, 2011.
Kan said he is responsible for having appointed Ryu Matsumoto to the new ministerial pst in charge of rebuilding areas ravaged by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami but indicated he has no plans to step down in the immediate future, despite mounting pressure to do so from both ruling and opposition lawmakers. (Photo by Natsuki Sakai/AFLO) [3615] -mis-