Opposition lawmakers are demanding Japan's finance minister resign over allegations he was drunk at a recent summit meeting.

Japanese news reports say Finance Minister, Shoichi Nakagawa, appeared to be drunk at a new conference following the G-7 finance ministers meeting in Rome.

Nakagawa says he'd had taken cold medicine that made him drowsy. But opposition leaders say he disgraced the country and should step down.

The scandal is the latest in a series of embarrassments plaguing Prime Minister, Taro Aso. Nakagawa met with Aso on Monday. The Prime Minister told Nakagawa to be careful of his health.