Japan's agriculture minister, Ryu Wasei, has drawn criticism after saying at a rally that road budgets for Nasukarasuyama City and Nakagawa Town in Tochigi Prefecture were significantly reduced this fiscal year, according to 中国新闻网. Both areas lie in his constituency but did not back him in February's lower house election. Wasei lost that race and returned to the Diet through proportional representation.
Opposition parties have pressed the government over the remarks. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has ruled out removing Wasei, saying on the 8th that she considered his comments inappropriate and had issued him a stern warning, 中国新闻网 reports. She said she wants him to stay on and to continue in his duties after giving a full explanation.
The dispute adds to a wider trust problem for the ruling party. In July, a "tribute" scandal emerged involving Liberal Democratic Party members in Fukuoka Prefecture, according to 中国新闻网. Several former prefectural assembly speakers and deputy speakers said they had been required to hand over large sums to the group before taking office, with the money used for golf fees and dining expenses. Etsuo Kurauchi, identified as one recipient of the funds, resigned as Fukuoka assembly speaker and as a member.
A Japanese commentator cited in the reporting said cabinets tend to resolve ministerial scandals quickly through resignation or dismissal, but that scrutiny can fade and investigations stall. The commentator argued the deeper issue is the relationship between politics and money, along with flaws in elections and policy, rather than any single official's fate.
Watch for whether the opposition keeps up its questioning of Wasei and whether the Takaichi cabinet takes further action.
