Naoto Kan Resigns From Office菅首相が退陣を正式表明 代表選挙で後継者選出

August 26, 2011, Tokyo, Japan – Japan’s Prime Minister Naoto Kan bows before announcing his resignation in a meeting of Democratic Party of Japan lawmakers in Tokyo on Friday, August 26, 2011. Since taking office in June 2010, Kan has been under fire over campaign financing and his poor handling of the crisis at the nuclear power plant triggered by the March 11 earthquake and ensuing tsunami. Kans departure will pave the way for the ruling party to select his successor in a race among seven mediocre candidates slated for August 29. Kan’s successor will become Japan’s sixth prime minister in five years. Kan lasted more than a year – longer than his four immediate predecessors. (Photo by AFLO)