Japan's PM fires son after pictures emerge of ‘improper’ private party
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The Japanese prime minister's eldest son steps down after misusing the PM's official residential building.
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Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his wife Yuko arrive at National Cemetery in Seoul, South Korea Sunday, May 7, 2023. (AP)
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's eldest son is set to step down as his father's executive policy secretary amid a public outcry over his use of the leader's official residence for a private party.
The Shukan Bunshun weekly magazine published photos of his son Shotaro and about 10 relatives posing or lying on the symbolically important red-carpeted stairs of the residence, in an imitation of group photos of the newly appointed cabinets.
《翔太郎秘書官が辞職》
— 週刊文春 (@shukan_bunshun) May 29, 2023
きっかけとなった「週刊文春」の記事はこちら。
岸田一族「首相公邸」大ハシャギ写真 階段に寝そべり、総理会見ごっこ #週刊文春 https://t.co/BegerTCkcN
His resignation serves as a blow to his father, whose approval ratings had improved immediately after this month’s G7 summit in Hiroshima and an apparent attempt on his life during a campaign stop last month.
The Prime Minister added on Monday that “as secretary for [the prime minister’s] political affairs, a public position, his actions were inappropriate and I decided to replace him to have him take responsibility,” adding that “of course, responsibility for the appointment lies with me." He said his son would be replaced on Thursday by a longtime personal aide, Takayoshi Yamamoto.
Moreover, the chief cabinet secretary, Hirokazu Matsuno, had earlier described the event as “inappropriate” and promised to ensure the residence was not used improperly again.
The nearly 100-year-old building previously served as the prime minister’s office and was turned into living quarters in 2005 when a new office was built.
