UPDATE 1 — Japan's Takaichi to sack farm minister Yana, Mainichi newspaper reports

(Adds background throughout) Opposition parties were preparing no-confidence motion against Yana, local media report NHK poll shows 78% say Yana's explanation is unacceptable Takaichi's cabinet support falls 2 points to 51%, NHK poll shows By Satoshi Sugiyama TOKYO, Oct 14 (Reuters) — Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has decided to replace farm minister Kazuo Yana, who had come under fire for his remarks about slashing road funding for municipalities that did not support him, the Mainichi newspaper reported on Wednesday. His resignation would mark the first for the administration of Takaichi, whose popularity has remained at relatively high levels since she took her post a year ago. Takaichi appointed Yana in a cabinet reshuffle last month to lead the ministry overseeing agriculture, forestry and fisheries, but had openly chided him in parliament for the remarks over the road funding, which local media first reported earlier this month. The resignation comes during an extraordinary parliamentary session in which Takaichi faces a high-stakes challenge to win approval for key policy goals including a temporary sales tax cut on food and beverages. Opposition parties in parliamen