Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced that he will dismiss his eldest son, Shotaro, from his position as executive secretary amid increasing criticism regarding inappropriate photos taken at the Prime Minister's official residence. Last week, a magazine published a photo of Shotaro with family members in a manner considered disrespectful, prompting the government to state that the photo "lacked propriety." Kishida said, "Of course, the responsibility for the appointment lies with me. I take this seriously. I want to fulfill my duties by addressing the unavoidable challenges and moving forward with determination."
Shotaro Kishida has been a recurring source of trouble for the Prime Minister since his appointment as executive secretary. The leader of the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party, Kenta Izumi, stated to reporters on Monday that "the appointment itself is a strong element of the intersection between public and private interests. Resignation is natural." Nobuyuki Baba, the leader of the opposition Japan Innovation Party, remarked that Kishida's son "should have acted with the awareness befitting his position." In January, Shotaro Kishida faced criticism for inappropriately mixing public and private interests by accompanying his father on visits to other countries. Reports indicated that Kishida's son used a government vehicle to visit major tourist sites and go shopping in London, Paris, and Ottawa.
