Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga answers questions from Yukio Edano, leader of the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, at the Lower House Budget Committee on March 1. (Kotaro Ebara)
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga showed more caution about lifting the COVID-19 state of emergency for the greater Tokyo area after opposition lawmakers and governors warned about a possible rebound in virus infections.
“I would like to wait and see how the infectious disease situation goes until last minute,” Suga said at the Lower House Budget Committee on March 2 about the state of emergency.
The state of emergency is scheduled to end on March 7 for Tokyo and the three surrounding prefectures of Chiba, Kanagawa and Saitama. It was lifted for six other prefectures on Feb. 28.
Tokyo to call for two-week extension of emergency, report says japantimes.co.jp - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from japantimes.co.jp Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
A senior public relations official for Japan's Cabinet has resigned. Yamada Makiko was treated to an expensive dinner by a satellite broadcasting firm while she held a high post in the communications ministry.
Ministry reprimands 11 officials over scandal involving Suga s son Sorry, but your browser needs Javascript to use this site. If you re not sure how to activate it, please refer to this site: https://www.enable-javascript.com/
Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Ryota Takeda speaks at a news conference at the Diet on Wednesday. | KYODO
Kyodo, JIJI Feb 24, 2021
The communications ministry reprimanded 11 officials on Wednesday for ethics code violations after they were treated to expensive meals by officials of a broadcasting company, including the eldest son of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.
An internal probe has found 13 officials have or are highly likely to have violated the National Public Service Ethics Law, which prohibits officials from receiving favors from stakeholders. The ministry determined that they have been wined and dined on a combined 39 occasions by Seigo Suga or other members of Tohokushinsha Film Corp., a company that offers satellite
The officials join four senior bureaucrats who were treated to expensive meals by Seigo Suga, a son of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, and are already in line for disciplinary measures.