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Japan opposition urges resignation of elite female bureaucrat over scandal
Opposition parties demanded Thursday the resignation of an elite female bureaucrat who was treated to a luxury dinner by the eldest son of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, but the government rejected the call.
Cabinet Public Relations Secretary Makiko Yamada, 60, was found to have been treated to a meal in 2019 worth 74,000 yen ($700) by Seigo Suga and other officials of Tohokushinsha Film Corp., which runs a satellite broadcasting business.
File photo shows Cabinet Public Relations Secretary Makiko Yamada (L) serving as the emcee at Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga s press conference in Tokyo on Dec. 4, 2020. (Kyodo)
Senior Japan bureaucrats ousted amid scandal over dinners with PM s son
Japan s communications ministry said Friday it has replaced two senior bureaucrats and is considering reprimands following reports that its officials were treated to expensive dinners by a son of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga in possible violation of ethics code.
Communications minister Ryota Takeda denied the scandal was the reason for the transfers of Yoshinori Akimoto, director general of the information and communications bureau, and Hironobu Yumoto, deputy director general of the bureau, but said it was decided in light of various situations during an ongoing Diet session. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga speaks during a House of Representatives Budget Committee session in Tokyo on Feb. 17, 2021. (Kyodo)
Japan s Olympics overlord Yoshiro Mori quit on Friday more than a week after his comments about women talking too much in meetings drew worldwide condemnation.
Opposition parties have called for Mori's resignation, but Suga has been hesitant to criticize the organizing committee chief, who still has a large influence within the LDP.