Multiple lawmakers from Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party have reportedly been involved in negative news, and Japanese public opinion is criticizing the Prime Minister for improper use of personnel.

Japanese Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Yohei Matsumoto, along with several other Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers, have recently been repeatedly exposed to negative news, triggering criticism and questions in Japan’s public opinion about the ruling party and Prime Minister Sanae Takai. According to Japan’s reports on the 11th, with a family already in place, Matsumoto maintained an improper relationship with a married woman. In response to public calls for him to resign, Matsumoto said on the 12th during a Budget Committee meeting of the House of Representatives that he would not resign, and Takai also said she supported him remaining in his post.

Large amounts of criticism targeting Matsumoto have appeared online in Japan. Some believe that, since the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology oversees education-related matters that affect the next generation, the role should be filled by “people with good character.” There is also public opinion calling for accountability for Takai, arguing that in this important post of Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, she “made inappropriate personnel arrangements.” In addition, Kyumi Onoda, the Minister in charge of economic security and assurance, was reported to have been late on the 6th while attending a Cabinet meeting; that same day, Yomei Saito, chair of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, was also reported to have caused a cancellation of a related meeting because he was late when attending it. Public opinion has thus criticized the ruling Liberal Democratic Party for having “lax discipline.”

Japanese public opinion generally believes that, amid a steady stream of negative news involving Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers, the scandal of the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology may not only further hit the image of the Liberal Democratic Party and Takai’s Cabinet, but also affect the current budget deliberations and the advancement of policies. (CCTV News)