Brash, right-leaning former foreign minister Taro Aso announced today that he will run for ruling party president in a move that would put him on track to take over as Japan’s next prime minister.

Ailing Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will remain in hospital indefinitely with stress-related stomach problems, but the government has no plans to name an acting premier, an official said today.

Former Foreign Minister Taro Aso declared his candidacy today to replace Japan’s prime minister, running as the conservative choice against dovish former Cabinet secretary Yasuo Fukuda.

Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe was hospitalised today for stress and exhaustion, a day after announcing his resignation, his doctors said.

Japan’s agriculture minister resigned today only a week after his appointment because of a scandal involving misuse of farm subsidies.

Japan’s main stock index bounced back with vigour today as investors snapped up technology and internet-related stocks that had been beaten down by the market’s big sell-off the previous two days.

Japan’s government rebuked the Tokyo Stock Exchange and one of the country’s biggest brokerage firms today after a typing error caused Mizuho Securities to lose at least 27 billion yen (€190m) on a stock trade.