Tomohiro Ishikawa, a Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker and former aide to DPJ Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa, tendered his resignation from the ruling party Feb. 11 following his indictment over funding irregularities in connection with a Tokyo land deal.

Tomohiro Ishikawa KYODO PHOTO

"I can't cause any more trouble to the party as it is facing budget deliberations at the Diet," Ishikawa said at a news conference in his electoral district of Obihiro, Hokkaido, adding that he did not seek Ozawa's opinion on his resignation.

Ishikawa, 36, who worked for Ozawa's Rikuzankai funds management body, was indicted Feb. 4 for failing to log ¥400 million in income for it, which was allegedly used to purchase the land in Tokyo's Setagaya Ward, in violation of the Political Funds Control Law.