The scandal surrounds allegations of kickbacks of 500 million yen ($3.4 million) within the Liberal Democratic Party, which has governed the world’s third-largest economy almost uninterrupted for decades.

Those resigning were Economy and Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, Internal Affairs Minister Junji Suzuki and Agriculture Minister Ichiro Miyashita, the reports from Jiji Press and others said.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno, who is also the government’s chief spokesman, was expected to follow suit later in the day along with a reported five deputy ministers.

Nishimura was quoted as telling reporters: “The public’s doubts are around me over political funds, which is leading to distrust in the government. As an investigation is going on, I thought I wanted to set things right.”