Resignation of a State Minister

State Minister of Justice, Mito Kakizawa, resigned on Tuesday, admitting his involvement in illegal campaign advertisement for the mayor of Tokyo’s Koto Ward, Yayoi Kimura. To the interview of Asahi Shimbun, Kakizawa admitted that he instructed Kimura to attach advertisement on YouTube, and Kimura did not know that was illegal. While Prime Minister Fumio Kishida acknowledged his responsibility of appointing Kakizawa to the post, it is unclear how much he is serious about it. Following the resignation of Parliamentary Vice-minister, Taro Yamada, with extramarital affair last week, the consecutive scandals will be significant blows against Kishida administration.

In the mayoral election in April, Kimura delivered an advertising video for five days, in which she appeared with the subtitle of “Vote for Yayoi Kimura.” She paid ¥140 thousand for the ad, and it was viewed 380 thousand times. Taking advantage of paid advertisement in internet for election campaign was prohibited by Public Office Election Law amended in 2013. Accused in the local assembly, Kimura stepped down as mayor in late October.

 

Although Kimura explained her illegal campaign as something done by her supporters, news reports revealed that it was recommended by a lawmaker. That is supposedly why the Special Investigation Department of Tokyo Public Prosecutors Office is in charge of this case. Not only recommending internet ad, Kakizawa is suspected as offering the place to record the video.

 

It is notable that Kakizawa has not explain about the case publicly. Kakizawa was invited by the Committee of Budget in House of Councillors on Tuesday to answer the questions by a committee member with Constitutional Democratic Party. Because he did not appear to the committee, it was suspended for two hours. Before being absent to the committee, Kakizawa made up his mind to resign.

 

Kishida apologized about the resignation in the committee. “I have to feel about responsibility on appointing (Kakizawa) as he resigned soon after the appointment,” said Kishida. When Kishida renewed the member of the state ministers in September, being criticized as not appointing any woman, he argued that the structure of the members was a result of selection based on a concept of “appropriate person to appropriate post.” Asked about whether the appointment of Kakizawa was appropriate, Kishida answered that he would do his best to regain credibility.

 

Kakizawa’s resignation came up five days after Parliamentary Vice-minister Taro Yamada resigned with the scandal of extramarital affair. Yamada and Kakizawa stepped down as soon as each scandal was revealed. Their actions should be done with consideration not the cases politically affect Kishida administration. But it is inevitable that the consecutive scandals and insufficiency of explaining why those scandals happen will be further blows on the administration suffering from low public approval rate.

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