But at least this guy hasn't crashed a car into the river.

Nakagawa was speaking to reporters in Tokyo today after meeting with Prime Minister Taro Aso. Aso called on Nakagawa to remain in his post, the finance chief said.

Nakagawa earlier told lawmakers he had slurred his speech because he had taken double the prescribed dose of medicine at a meeting of finance ministers and central bankers on Feb. 14. The minister appeared to have difficulty understanding questions when addressing reporters after the gathering.

“I took a little more medicine than prescribed,” Nakagawa said at parliament, adding that he had “a sip” of wine earlier at a luncheon. He told reporters outside his home earlier today he “wouldn’t drink before a G-7 meeting” in remarks broadcast by Asahi Television.

Opposition lawmakers will table a motion for Nakagawa to resign as soon as tomorrow, Kyodo News reported, without citing where it obtained the information.

“He has been doing an incredibly good job, and I am grateful for that,” Aso told reporters today. “I told him to take good care of himself.”

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