Tokyo, Oct. 2 (Jiji Press)–Controversial remarks and alleged election law violations involving two newly appointed Japanese ministers have raised concerns within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party before a parliamentary session opens on Monday. Opposition forces are poised to grill the administration of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi during the parliamentary session over her responsibility for appointing the two–agriculture minister Kazuo Yana and internal affairs minister Hisayuki Fujii. The pair assumed ministerial posts for the first time on Sept. 17 as part of Takaichi’s cabinet reshuffle. Yana reportedly told a meeting in Tochigi Prefecture, his home turf, in May that fiscal 2026 road budgets had been drastically cut for Nasukarasuyama and Nakagawa, municipalities in the eastern Japan prefecture, because of a lack of support for him. The reported remarks came after Yana, an LDP member, lost to an independent candidate in the House of Representatives election in February. He was later elected as a proportional representation candidate. Referring to the reported remarks at a press conference on Friday, Yana said, “Some of my expressions were misleading.” “I want to fulfill my duties,” he said, indicating his intention to remain in office. At a separate press conference earlier on Friday, he said, “I would decline to comment on matters related to my activities as a lawmaker prior to becoming a minister.” Separately, a weekly magazine has reported that Fujii is suspected of paying campaign staff in the 2024 Lower House election in violation of the public offices election law. Fujii, also an LDP member, denied the allegation at a press conference on Friday, saying, “I recognize that we were acting appropriately in accordance with law.” At a press conference on Thursday, LDP policy chief Takayuki Kobayashi defended the two ministers, saying, “As politicians with strong policy capabilities, I want them to lead their own ministries as ministers.” “There is no problem,” a senior official at the prime minister’s office said, indicating that both ministers will remain in their posts. Still, a senior LDP official said, “If there is a problem, it would be better for the administration to replace them early.” A senior LDP member of the House of Councillors expressed concerns that parliamentary discussions may be stalled. In March, Takaichi kept then education minister Yohei Matsumoto in his post despite an extramarital affair involving him. If a minister is replaced because of a scandal, it would be the first for the administration of Takaichi, who took office in October last year, and a blow to her. Speaking to reporters Thursday, Takeshi Shina, secretary-general of the opposition Democratic Reform Party, said that the Takaichi administration’s governance and her appointing criteria need to be scrutinized. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
