Shotaro Kishida, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's political secretary, was not helped by the fact that he was also his son: when he was caught misbehaving, he lost his job – and his father took responsibility for his son's actions.
The prime minister announced today that Shotaro will be removed from office on Thursday. The reason: At a New Year's party, the son and other relatives were photographed at a press conference at the official residence and pretended to be politicians.
Shotaro Kishida, the Son of Japanese PM Nobuo Kishida & the Exec Secretary to the PM, threw a private party with his family at the Prime Minister's OFFICIAL RESIDENCE.
They posed on the podium and the red carpeted staircase. https://t.co/y0YjGzWiNu
Very inappropriate! pic.twitter.com/tJHtmDVn0y
— Maciro (@Maciro_45) May 26, 2023
Footage of the press conference leaked to the media and caused a scandal for misconduct.
Shotaro Kishida, the son of the Prime Minister, appointed by his father as secretary, held a year-end party at the prime minister's official residence with his relatives and enjoyed taking pictures in public spaces. Photos of him lying on the staircase have gone viral. #JAPANEWS pic.twitter.com/6WyvMWgUgk
— 🌐JapaNews🌐 (@dascrazyjapan) May 29, 2023
"His behavior in the public sphere was inappropriate given that he holds an official position as a political assistant and therefore I have decided to remove him," Fumio Kishida explained.
This is not the first time the prime minister's eldest son has caused controversy in Japan. Four months ago, Shotaro made headlines for using a Sharad vehicle for shopping during his father's state visit to France, Britain and Canada. Government officials defended the use of Sharad vehicles, claiming that as part of the shopping he had purchased gifts in his father's name.
Back in October last year, when Shotaro was appointed to the position, Japanese people raised eyebrows at the choice, which smells of nepotism. It was believed that Fumio wanted to prepare Shotaro for political life so that in the future he could win a contest for his seat in parliament. By the way, in early February, Kishima had already ousted one of his closest aides after making derogatory remarks about LGBT people.
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