Photographer: Kiyoshi Ota / Bloomberg
Photographer: Kiyoshi Ota / Bloomberg
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, who suffered from the support of his virus management, sparked fresh criticism for ignoring government advice to keep meetings small by attending an upscale steak dinner with several celebrities.
The 72-year-old took part in the meal at a restaurant in Tokyo’s upscale Ginza neighborhood on Monday, shortly after announcing that the government would suspend its travel incentive program over the New Year holidays amid a record spread of the coronavirus. There were about eight people at the dinner, television channel FNN reported, against the government’s advice to hold meetings at four or less.
“There was a lot of distance from other people, but I honestly think I caused a misunderstanding,” Suga told reporters on Wednesday. He added that he is taking the situation seriously after Japan settles in a record for confirmed infections over the weekend and experts have warned of the high risks of eating and drinking with others.
The event was popular on Twitter Wednesday morning and was a staple of gossip TV shows, showing images of those leaving the eatery and asking panelists what Suga was thinking. Secretary General Tetsuro Fukuyama of the Constitutional Democratic Party of the opposition said Suga should have shown restraint.
“The prime minister’s schedule is being published and it sends a message to the public, so I want him to think about it carefully,” Natsuo Yamaguchi, head of Suga’s coalition partner Komeito, told reporters on Tuesday.
Suga’s meal blunder comes because several politicians have been criticized for acting against the advice of their own governments. This includes California Governor Gavin Newsom, who has repeatedly apologized for disregarding state socializing guidelines by attending a birthday party last month at a famous wine country restaurant in the state.
Suga, the taciturn son of a strawberry grower, enjoyed government support of more than 60% when he was installed in September as the first new prime minister since 2012, replacing Shinzo Abe, who stepped down due to ill health. Three months later, a poll by public broadcaster NHK published Tuesday found that approval had fallen 14 percentage points to 42%, with the majority of respondents saying they disapproved of his virus control.
Suga inherited the remaining year of Abe’s tenure as leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. With the clock ticking on an election to be held before the lower house term ends on Oct. 21, Suga must seek support if he is to rest that year in an extended spell in Japan’s top job.
Asked about the steak dinner in parliament on Wednesday, Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said there is no blanket ban on gatherings of five or more people. “We ask people to avoid them as much as possible,” he said.
– With help from Emi Nobuhiro, Hiroyuki Sekine and Kana Nishizawa
(Updates with comments from Suga in third paragraph)