Japan's key business confidence index worsened for the first time in six months in April, as bad weather put a damper on sales of spring clothing while manufacturers' profits increased with the yen weakening, the government said Friday. The diffusion index of sentiment in the nation's current economic situation among so-called "economy watchers" fell 0.8 point from March to 56.5, the Cabinet Office said in its monthly survey.

The government is considering appointing Taizo Nishimuro, a former head of Toshiba Corp., as Japan Post Holdings Co. president, replacing Atsuo Saka, a source familiar with the situation said Friday. Saka, a former Finance Ministry official, is expected to step down in June after a shareholders meeting, the source said. Saka was promoted to the top post in December from vice president of the postal giant, just days before the formation of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government.

The U.S. Congressional Research Service has noted that comments and actions by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on historical issues "have raised concern that Tokyo could upset regional relations in ways that hurt U.S. interests." In its May 1 report, the research arm of Congress said Abe is known as a "strong nationalist" and that his approach to issues relating to wartime sex slaves, history textbooks and visits to a war-linked shrine in Tokyo "will be closely monitored" not just by China and South Korea but also by the United States.

The House of Councillors approved Thursday a request by Democratic Party of Japan legislator Kunihiko Muroi to be allowed to relinquish his seat at a plenary session. Muroi, who was elected to the upper house on the DPJ's proportional representation list, aims to run on another party's ticket in the upcoming upper house election. The 66-year-old has already submitted a written resignation to the DPJ.