FUKUSHIMA- Anyone who takes the post of reconstruction minister in Japan should work hard to regain trust in the government, Fukushima Governor Masao Uchibori said Wednesday.

Uchibori made the comments at a press conference after Masahiro Imamura resigned as reconstruction minister earlier in the day over controversial remarks he made regarding the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

The disaster mainly affected the Tohoku northeastern region that includes Fukushima Prefecture.

"It is regrettable that Imamura ended up resigning from the post after making a series of controversial remarks," Uchibori said.

"The reconstruction minister is an important post for Tohoku and Fukushima," the governor said.

Any reconstruction minister should fulfill his or her duties in a stable manner as leader of the region's reconstruction in order to regain public trust in the government, Uchibori said.

Imamura was replaced by Masayoshi Yoshino, a lawmaker elected from Fukushima.

Uchibori said he wants Yoshino to take advantage of his knowledge of the situation in disaster areas and work hard on rebuilding Fukushima and Tohoku.

Imamura quit as reconstruction minister after he said Tuesday that it was better that the disaster occurred in the Tohoku region. If it had happened near Tokyo, it would have caused tremendous damage, he said. (Jiji Press)