Hiromu Kurokawa (right), head of the Tokyo High Public Prosecutor's Office, attends a meeting at the Justice Ministry in February. — KYODO/VNA Photo

TOKYO — The Cabinet on Friday approved the resignation of Japan's second-highest-ranking prosecutor, believed to be favoured by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, for playing mahjong for money earlier this month, potentially in violation of the law.

Hiromu Kurokawa tendered his resignation as chief of the Tokyo High Public Prosecutors Office on Thursday after admitting to gambling on the game with reporters at the home of one of them.

The visit defied social distancing guidelines introduced to fight the novel coronavirus. — KYODO