Japanese Justice Minister Minoru Yanagida leaves a news conference at the ministry in Tokyo November 22, 2010. Yanagida said on Monday he will step down over a gaffe that critics say made light of parliamentary deliberations. [Photo/Agencies]

TOKYO - Japan's justice minister resigned Monday over comments that made light of his duty to respond to questioning in parliament, the latest blow to the ruling party as it struggles to keep Japan's fragile economic recovery alive.

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Minoru Yanagida said Nov 14 that as justice minister he only needed to remember two comments when facing questions from lawmakers: "I do not comment on specific cases," and "We are dealing with the matter appropriately based on law and evidence."

The remarks set off a firestorm of criticism from lawmakers, who demanded he step down from his post. The gaffe is the latest setback for Prime Minister Naoto Kan, whose falling support in polls has emboldened the political opposition.

"My imprudent comments in Hiroshima have had consequences in various areas," Yanagida said Monday, referring to the speech where he made jokes about dodging lawmaker questions.

He said he decided to step down after meeting early Monday with Kan, who expressed concern about the debate holding up key financial legislation. Yanagida had said previously he intended to keep his post despite the criticism.

A key opposition party had been preparing a censure motion against him and threatening to boycott parliamentary deliberations on the stimulus budget if he didn't quit.

Japan's economy expanded at an annualized pace of 3.9 percent in the third quarter, but all signs point to a rapid deceleration in the current quarter. Slowing exports and a persistently strong yen are taking their toll, while deflation is keeping a tight grip on the world's No 3 economy.

The package, which the government estimates will help lift the nation's gross domestic product by 0.6 percentage points, includes financial support for small businesses and spending to boost local economies.

In June, political squabbling led another minister to step down. Shizuka Kamei, the former financial services and postal reform minister who heads a small coalition party, resigned while saying the ruling party had breached an agreement to quickly pass a bill aimed at scaling back the privatization of Japan's postal system.