Japan has named Takeaki Matsumoto as the new Foreign Minister, after his predecessor quit at the weekend over a political donations scandal.

The 51-year-old was deputy foreign minister in Naoto Kan's government, and is a great great grandson of Japan's first prime minister.

His appointment comes as Mr Kan is struggling to get budget bills through parliament and hold on to his own job.

Mr Matsumoto replaces Seiji Maehara who stepped down on Sunday after just six months in the job, after he acknowledged accepting political donations from a foreign national - illegal in Japan if done intentionally.

(VOV)