This Aug 1, 2019 file photo shows Japan's Emperor Naruhito reading a statement to open formally an extraordinary session of parliament in Tokyo. (EUGENE HOSHIKO / AP)

TOKYO - Former farm minister Takamori Yoshikawa resigned as a lawmaker in the lower house of parliament on Tuesday following allegations that he received five million yen (US$48,000) from a lobbyist.

Citing health reasons, the 70-year-old Yoshikawa submitted his resignation to House of Representatives Speaker Tadamori Oshima, who accepted it.

Citing health reasons, the 70-year-old Yoshikawa submitted his resignation to House of Representatives Speaker Tadamori Oshima, who accepted it

On Monday, Yoshikawa issued a statement offering to resign, saying he is being treated in hospital for a chronic heart disease that requires surgery henceforth.

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Yoshikawa, who was serving his sixth term as a lower house member and joined the cabinet for the first time as farm minister in October 2018 and served until September of last year, is alleged to have received illicit funds from an egg farming company in western Japan.

A by-election is scheduled for April 25 in Yoshikawa's constituency in Japan's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido. 

The allegations against Yoshikawa are likely to impact public support for Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's government.

Suga's approval ratings have recently plunged over the handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Suga's government also has to contend with former prime minister Shinzo Abe being questioned on Monday by prosecutors over allegations of political funding violations involving his support group.

This October 2, 2018 picture shows then Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Takamori Yoshikawa speaking during his press conference at premier's official residence in Tokyo. (TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA / AFP)

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Members of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) members on Tuesday suggested that prosecutors questioning Abe could damage the current government.

Abe's support group is alleged to have failed to report spending and revenue gained related to annual parties thrown for Abe's supporters at Tokyo hotels in its political fund reports, specifically the parties that were held on the eve of government-funded cherry blossom viewing events during Abe's premiership.

"I wouldn't say there is no impact to the Suga government," Toshihiro Nikai, secretary general of the ruling LDP told a press conference on the matter.

Abe has denied any wrongdoing but the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ) maintains that the explanations Abe gave last year to parliament over the scandal were false.

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"We will have an occasion for Abe to explain about repeatedly making false responses at the Diet and take responsibility," Jun Azumi, the Diet affairs chief of the CDPJ, said.

CDPJ Secretary General Tetsuro Fukuyama said that Suga, who served as Abe's right-hand man and top spokesperson for almost eight years, "cannot evade responsibility as he similarly made false statements as chief Cabinet secretary of the Abe government."

"It is an extremely serious situation that a person who served as prime minister for seven years and eight months has been questioned by prosecutors. It has become even more important to have him testify as a witness in public," Akira Koike, head of the secretariat of the Japanese Communist Party, said of the matter.

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Opposition parties want the ruling party to permit the ex-prime minister to face the allegations against him in both chambers of parliament.

It is important to have the former premier offer explanations in a manner that can gain public understanding," Hiroshi Moriyama, the LDP's head of parliamentary affairs, said.