Japanese Economics and Financial Services Minister Heizo Takenaka said on Friday he would continue in his job despite missing state pension payments, a controversial issue that cost another government official his job. "I received instructions from the prime minister to continue with my post," he told reporters. "I would like to continue to do my best." Last week, Takenaka admitted he had in the past missed eleven months worth of pension contributions.
Chief cabinet secretary Yasuo Fukuda earlier said he would resign over missed payments to the state pension plan. The scandal, in which several cabinet members and politicians have admitted to not paying pension premiums in the past, comes amid government efforts to encourage ordinary citizens to pay into the creaking system///