Japan's finance minister will spend the New Year holidays in the hospital, recovering from apparent exhaustion after weeks of intense work on next year's budget, according to reports.

Hirohisa Fujii was admitted to an undisclosed hospital Monday and will stay for about 10 days as he rests and undergoes medical tests, Kyodo News agency said, citing government officials.

The minister's hospitalization comes after he and his staff spent several grueling weeks drafting and negotiating the budget for the next fiscal year. Approved Friday, the budget stands at a record 92.29 trillion yen ($1 trillion).

Fujii also has a history of high blood pressure.

At 77, Fujii is the oldest member of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's new Cabinet.

He postponed his planned retirement from politics after the Democratic Party of Japan ended the Liberal Democrats' longtime grip on power in national elections this summer.

Fujii served as finance minister from 1993 to 1994 after a two-decade career as a finance ministry bureaucrat.

His appointment brought relief amid concerns that Japan's new government lacked experience.

The minister still plans to attend Cabinet meetings scheduled for Wednesday and Jan. 5, according to Kyodo.