Finance Minister Shoichi Nakagawa abruptly resigned Feb. 17 amid intense pressure to step down over his sloppy and allegedly drunken appearance at a Group of Seven media briefing in Rome on Feb. 14.

Prime Minister Taro Aso accepted Nakagawa's resignation letter immediately and said he would appoint Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister Kaoru Yosano, 70, to succeed Nakagawa.

At the Rome G-7 news conference, Nakagawa slurred his speech, at times appeared half asleep and had trouble answering questions from reporters.

While some have speculated he was under the influence of alcohol, Nakagawa said he believes his wobbly performance was caused mainly by jet lag and the intake of too much cold medicine.