TOKYO - Japan's Olympic Minister, Yoshitaka Sakurada, resigned on Wednesday after he made remarks that offended people affected by the massive earthquake and tsunami that triggered nuclear meltdowns in 2011.

"Minister Sakurada offered to resign as he made comments that hurt the feelings of those in the disaster affected areas," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters after he accepted Sakurada's resignation.

(Reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka; editing by Darren Schuettler) ((kiyoshi.takenaka@thomsonreuters.com; +81 3 6441 1810; Reuters Messaging: kiyoshi.takenaka.reuters.com@reuters.net))