Japan Press Weekly

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2022 November 9 - 15 [POLITICS]

Justice Minister resigns due to his gaffes over death penalty

Justice Minister Hanashi Yasuhiro on November 11 resigned over his controversial remarks on the death penalty. Japanese Communist Party Secretariate Head Koike Akira held a press conference in the Diet building and said, "It is a matter of course for Hanashi to step down from his post," and criticized Prime Minister Kishida Fumio for eluding his responsibility for appointing Hanashi by refusing to respond to questions in the Diet.

Koike pointed out that Hanashi, who joked about the justice minister's role, was not qualified to remain as justice minister. Hanashi made the remarks in question on the evening of November 9. Koike said, "PM Kishida should have removed Hanashi immediately to accept his responsibility in the Diet for having appointed him to the post."

PM Kishida in the Upper House plenary session on November 11 refused to dismiss Hanashi, and Hanashi himself in a Lower House Judicial Affairs Committee meeting also refused to step down. Koike said, "Kishida left accountability to Hanashi by shelving his own appointing responsibility and escaped from the opposition parties' questioning over this matter."

Hanashi's resignation is the second in the Kishida Cabinet following former economic revitalization minister Yamagiwa Taishiro who resigned after a spate of revelations of his links with the former Unification Church. Koike said, "PM Kishida should cancel his overseas visits and hold budget committee meetings in order to sincerely respond to the demand for accountability."