The Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced Monday that his son will resign as his executive secretary in order to accept responsibility for the use of the prime minister’s residence by a private party, at which magazine pictures revealed the revelry. This caused public outrage.
Shotaro, the eldest son of his father and executive secretary for political matters, invited relatives, friends, and colleagues to a party at the Official Residence of Prime Minister Kishida on December 30.
The Shukan Bunshun weekly magazine published photos of Kishida’s son, his family and friends posing in imitation of group pictures taken for newly appointed Cabinets. The younger Kishida was positioned at the center of the photo. Some photos show guests standing in front of a podium, as if they were holding a press conference.
Kishida said to reporters on Monday night that his son’s actions as secretary of (the prime minister) political affairs were inappropriate. I replaced him so he could take responsibility. He announced that his son would be replaced by another secretary on Thursday, Takayoshi Yammoto.
Kishida admitted that he briefly welcomed the guests, but said he did not stay at the dinner.
He claimed to have severely reprimanded him son for his party’s actions, but this did not stop the criticism and outrage of opposition legislators or the public. His support ratings are now lower.
In October, Kishida named his son to the position of policy secretary, which is one of eight secretaries for the Prime Minister. This appointment was seen as a way to groom him as his successor, but it has been criticized for being nepotism. His son had been his father’s personal secretary.
Kishida’s son was not the only one to be criticized for using his official position to engage in private activities. He was reprimanded after he used embassy cars to go on private tours in Britain and Paris, and bought souvenirs at a London luxury department store for cabinet members.
Hirokazu Mattsuno, the Chief Cabinet Secretary had earlier called the son’s party at official residence “inappropriate” and promised that the facility would be properly managed to prevent misuse in the future.
In 2005, a new building was constructed and the nearly 100-year old building became the residence.
