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Japan PM Kishida sacks close aide for his anti-LGBT remarks

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks to reporters in Sakai, Fukui Prefecture on Feb. 4, 2023, during his visit to the central Japan city. Kishida said he has sacked Masayoshi Arai, an elite bureaucrat who served as executive secretary to Kishida after he recently made discriminatory remarks against sexual minorities.

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Japan PM Kishida sacks close aide for his anti-LGBT remarks

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks to reporters in Sakai, Fukui Prefecture on Feb. 4, 2023, during his visit to the central Japan city. Kishida said he has sacked Masayoshi Arai, an elite bureaucrat who served as executive secretary to Kishida after he recently made discriminatory remarks against sexual minorities.

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Interview with career female bureaucrat

TOKYO, Japan - Noriko Kawamura, deputy chief of the Equal Employment Policy Division at the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, speaks during an interview in Tokyo, Japan, on June 11, 2014.

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"Me too" in Japan

TOKYO, Japan, April 20 Kyodo - Female opposition lawmakers visit the Finance Ministry to protest against its top bureaucrat's alleged sexual harassment of a female reporter, holding signs with the hashtag "Me Too" -- a worldwide rallying cry for victims of sexual assault or harassment to share their experiences and call for change.

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Finance Ministry top bureaucrat Fukuda

TOKYO, Japan, April 16 Kyodo - Photo taken April 16, 2018, at the Finance Ministry shows Vice Finance Minister Junichi Fukuda. The top bureaucrat at the ministry denied the same day a recent magazine report alleging he sexually harassed female reporters

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Kyoto gubernatorial election

KYOTO, Japan, April 9 Kyodo - Former bureaucrat Takatoshi Nishiwaki (C) celebrates after winning the gubernatorial election in Kyoto Prefecture on April 8, 2018.

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Kyoto gubernatorial election

KYOTO, Japan, April 9 Kyodo - Kazuhito Fukuyama, a 57-year-old lawyer, speaks in front of his supporters in Kyoto city after losing the gubernatorial election in Kyoto Prefecture on April 8, 2018. Former bureaucrat Takatoshi Nishiwaki won the election, fought between newcomers.

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Key ex-bureaucrat in Japan document scandal

TOKYO, Japan, March 27 Kyodo - Former National Tax Agency chief Nobuhisa Sagawa attends a session of the House of Representatives' Budget Committee in Tokyo on March 27, 2018, to testify as a sworn witness.

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Parliament summons ex-bureaucrat over Abe's alleged favoritism

TOKYO, Japan, July 10 Kyodo - Kihei Maekawa, a former top bureaucrat at the education ministry, attends a House of Representatives committee meeting in Tokyo on July 10, 2017, to testify as an unsworn witness about allegations that Shinzo Abe used his power as prime minister to help a close friend open a university department.

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Japan's national security chief leaves for Russia

NARITA, Japan - Shotaro Yachi (L front), Japan's top bureaucrat of its National Security Council, is seen at Narita airport near Tokyo on March 12, 2014, before leaving for Russia. Yachi will meet with Nikolai Patrushev, secretary of the Security Council of Russia, and other officials to confer on the tensions in Ukraine.

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Saiki eyed as new vice foreign minister

TOKYO, Japan - Photo shows Akitaka Saiki, a deputy foreign minister of Japan. The government plans to appoint Saiki as the new vice foreign minister, the top bureaucrat at the Foreign Ministry, a government source said June 14, 2013.

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Top defense bureaucrat Nakae

NAHA, Japan - Vice Defense Minister Kimito Nakae speaks to reporters in Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, on Nov. 30, 2011, after holding talks with Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima. Nakae, the top bureaucrat at the Defense Ministry, apologized to the governor over an indiscreet comment made by then chief of the Okinawa Defense Bureau Satoshi Tanaka.

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Top defense bureaucrat Nakae, Okinawa Gov. Nakaima talk

NAHA, Japan - Vice Defense Minister Kimito Nakae (L) and Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima hold talks in Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, on Nov. 30, 2011. Nakae, the top bureaucrat at the Defense Ministry, apologized to the governor over an indiscreet comment made by then chief of the Okinawa Defense Bureau Satoshi Tanaka.

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Japan to field female bureaucrat to head green fund

TOKYO, Japan - Undated file photo shows Naoko Ishii, deputy vice minister of finance of Japan. The Japanese government said Nov. 15, 2011, it will field Ishii as a candidate to head the Global Environmental Facility, a green fund linked to the World Bank and other international development bodies. If elected as chief executive officer of the GEF by its governing body in June 2012, Ishii would become the Japanese ministry's first female official to lead an international institution.

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LDP lawmaker throws water at Foreign Ministry official

TOKYO, Japan - This undated file photo shows Seiichi Eto, a House of Councillors member of the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party. On May 24, 2011, Eto threw water at a senior Foreign Ministry official as he was frustrated with the attitude of the bureaucrat who was explaining a visit by South Korean lawmakers to a Russian-held island off Hokkaido claimed by Japan, LDP members said.

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Regional elections across Japan

HIROSHIMA, Japan - Former health ministry bureaucrat Kazumi Matsui receives a bouquet of flowers from his supporters in Hiroshima on April 10, 2011, after securing victory in the day's election to choose the mayor of the western Japanese city. Matsui, 58, received support from the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito, Japan's two largest opposition parties.

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Japan prosecutor held over data tampering

OSAKA, Japan - Undated file photo shows Tsunehiko Maeda, a prosecutor at the Osaka District Public Prosecutors Office. Japan's Supreme Public Prosecutors Office in a rare move arrested the 43-year-old Maeda on Sept. 21, 2010, on suspicion of altering computer data seized during an investigation into a high-profile document falsification allegation involving an elite bureaucrat.

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Ex-Tokyo Gov. Shunichi Suzuki dies at 99

TOKYO, Japan - Former Tokyo Gov. Shunichi Suzuki (file photo taken in February, 1983), known for moving the metropolitan government office to the Shinjuku district after establishing the basis for local autonomy when he was a bureaucrat, died on May 14, 2010. He was 99. Suzuki served four four-year terms as governor of the capital from 1979, during which he restored the city's fiscal health and moved the government building to Shinjuku Ward from Yurakucho in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward in March 1991.

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Ex-bureaucrat acquitted of political paper case

TOKYO, Japan - Lawyers rush from the Tokyo High Court building in Tokyo on March 29, 2010, to spread word of the court's decision to acquit a former bureaucrat of involvement in illegal political activities. The sign (R) reads ''Innocence.'' '

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Japanese parliament probes secret pacts

TOKYO, Japan - Kunihiko Saito, a former vice foreign minister, speaks about secret pacts reached by Japan and the United States as an unsworn witness during a session of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee on March 19, 2010. The retired top bureaucrat of the ministry denied he had been briefed on the matter by his predecessor.

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Japanese diplomat visits Washington

WASHINGTON, United States - Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Mitoji Yabunaka speaks to reporters in front of the U.S. State Department in Washington on Jan. 5, 2010. The Foreign Ministry's top bureaucrat said the government is making final arrangements for an early visit by Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada to the United States.

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Yuzaki wins Hiroshima gubernatorial election

HIROSHIMA, Japan - Hidehiko Yuzaki (2nd from L), a 44-year-old former trade ministry bureaucrat, celebrates with his family and supporters on Nov. 8, 2009, after the media project his victory in the gubernatorial election in Hiroshima Prefecture. Yuzaki won a landslide victory in the election to replace outgoing Gov. Yuzan Fujita.

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Takenaka raps nomination of ex-bureaucrat to head Japan Post

TOKYO, Japan - Former economic and fiscal policy minister Heizo Takenaka, the main architect of postal privatization under former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, speaks in an interview with Kyodo News in Tokyo on Oct. 22, 2009. Takenaka criticized the government's naming of a former bureaucrat to head Japan Post Holdings Co.

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Koizumi postal reform strategist Takahashi suspected of theft

TOKYO, Japan - File photo shows Yoichi Takahashi, a key architect of former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's project to privatize postal services, who has been accused of theft. Police allege that Takahashi, a former elite bureaucrat at the Finance Ministry, stole a wallet and a luxury watch at a hot spring facility on March 24.

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Vice farm minister offers to resign over tainted-rice scandal

TOKYO, Japan - File photo of Toshiro Shirasu, the top bureaucrat at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Shirasu has offered to resign in connection with his handling of a tainted-rice scandal, informed sources said.

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Ex-labor ministry bureaucrat Sakurai to be Supreme Court justice

TOKYO, Japan - Former labor ministry bureaucrat Ryuko Sakurai (in file photo) was appointed Supreme Court justice on Sept. 5 to replace Kazuko Yokoo, who has decided to resign two years and seven months ahead of reaching the age limit of 70.

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Gov't nominates JBIC's Tanami as BOJ chief, faces opposition

TOKYO, Japan - The government nominated Koji Tanami (file photo), governor of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation and a former top Finance Ministry bureaucrat, as the next governor of the Bank of Japan on March 18.

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DPJ decides to reject Muto as next BOJ chief

TOKYO, Japan - An opposition Democratic Party of Japan panel on March 11 discusses the government's nomination of Bank of Japan Deputy Governor Toshiro Muto for the post of governor of the central bank. The party later formally decided to reject the nomination due to Muto's background as a bureaucrat even though he pledged in the Diet to ensure the BOJ's ''independence.''

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Gov't panel to reform Defense Ministry holds 1st meeting

TOKYO, Japan - Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura (2nd from R) speaks at the outset of the first meeting of a government panel of experts studying ways to drastically reform the Defense Ministry in response to recent scandals including a bribery case involving a former top defense bureaucrat.

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Moriya's arrest 'extremely deplorable': Machimura

TOKYO, Japan - Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura speaks at a news conference at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Nov. 28 after former Vice Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya was arrested by prosecutors on suspicion of taking bribes from a defense equipment trader while he was still the top defense bureaucrat.

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Moriya arrested on suspicion of taking bribes

TOKYO, Japan - Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks at a news conference at the Defense Ministry in Tokyo on Nov. 28 after former Vice Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya was arrested by prosecutors on suspicion of taking bribes from a defense equipment trader while he was still the top defense bureaucrat.

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Prosecutors begin questioning Moriya over bribe-taking

TOKYO, Japan - Former Vice Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya heads to be questioned by prosecutors on Nov. 28 in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward. Moriya is suspected of taking a bribe from recently arrested defense equipment trader Motonobu Miyazaki while he was still the top defense bureaucrat, investigation sources said.

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Prosecutors begin questioning Moriya over bribe-taking

TOKYO, Japan - Prosecutors began questioning former Vice Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya (in photo) on Nov. 28 on suspicion of taking a bribe from recently arrested defense equipment trader Motonobu Miyazaki while he was still the top defense bureaucrat, investigation sources said. Photo shows Moriya leaving his home to take a taxi the same day.

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Ozaki wins Kochi gubernatorial election

KOCHI, Japan - Former Finance Ministry bureaucrat Masanao Ozaki (C) beat three other candidates to win the Kochi gubernatorial election Nov. 25 to succeed reformist Gov. Daijiro Hashimoto, who is stepping down after 16 years in office.

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Abe names Akagi as new farm minister

TOKYO, Japan - New Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Norihiko Akagi speaks at news conference in Tokyo on June 1. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe named Akagi, a former farm ministry bureaucrat, to replace Toshikatsu Matsuoka, who committed suicide on May 28.

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Abe names Akagi as new farm minister

TOKYO, Japan - New Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Norihiko Akagi speaks at news conference in Tokyo on June 1. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe named Akagi, a former farm ministry bureaucrat, to replace Toshikatsu Matsuoka, who committed suicide on May 28.

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Anthropologist Tamotsu Aoki named as cultural agency head

TOKYO, Japan - Anthropologist Tamotsu Aoki, who was appointed as head of the Agency for Cultural Affairs on March 27. (File photo). Aoki, 68, visiting professor at Waseda University's Organization for Asian Studies, will replace Shinji Kondo, a senior bureaucrat of the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry.

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Kosai picked as new tax panel chief, eyes basic study of tax system

TOKYO, Japan - Yutaka Kosai, a bureaucrat-turned-economist, speaks at a press conference after being named chairman of the govenment's tax panel on Jan. 22.

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New METI parliamentary secretary Katayama vows to carry out reforms

TOKYO, Japan - Rookie lawmaker Satsuki Katayama walks into the prime minister's office after being appointed as parliamentary secretary of the Economy, Industry and Trade Ministry on Nov. 2. The 46-year-old former elite bureaucrat at the Finance Ministry pledged to carry out reforms at her new position, saying, ''I was elected to parliament as I advocated reforms. It is a challenge for me to complete the mission in a good way.''

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New parliamentarians step into lower house after election

TOKYO, Japan - Satsuki Katayama, a former Finance Ministry bureaucrat, has a parliamentarian's badge pinned on her Sept. 21 before attending a special Diet session after the Sept. 11 general election.

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Koizumi tells new LDP elects not to represent specific interests

TOKYO, Japan - Satsuki Katayama, former Ministry of Finance bureaucrat who was elected in the Sept. 11 House of Representatives election, arrives at the Liberal Democratic Party headquarters in Tokyo on Sept. 20 to attend a training program launched by the ruling party for newcomers.

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Ex-bureaucrat Katayama wins in Shizuoka

HAMAMATSU, Japan - Former Finance Ministry bureaucrat Satsuki Katayama celebrates at her election campaign office in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, on Sept. 12 after finding out she was certain to capture the Shizuoka No. 7 district seat in the Sept. 11 House of Representatives election.

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Katayama begins election campaigning

HAMAMATSU, Japan - Satsuki Katayama, a former Finance Ministry bureaucrat now running in the Sept. 11 general election, waves as she leaves her office in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, on Aug. 30 for official campaigning in the election.

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Koizumi asks MOF bureaucrat to run in election

TOKYO, Japan - Satsuki Katayama, a Ministry of Finance bureaucrat, leaves the Liberal Democratic Party Headquarters in Tokyo on Aug. 13 after a meeting with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. Koizumi, who doubles as LDP President, asked her to run in the Sept. 11 election on an LDP ticket, party officials said. Kyodo)

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S. Korea urges Japan to take action against bureaucrat

SEOUL, South Korea - South Korea's spokesman urged Japan to take disciplinary action against Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Shotaro Yachi who reportedly said Japan is reluctant to share information with S. Korea because the United States does not trust S. Korea on the issue of North Korea's nuclear programs.

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Japan's new ambassador to Uruguay named

TOKYO, Japan - Japan on April 1 appointed former home affairs bureaucrat Shinichi Kuyama (file photo) as ambassador to Uruguay.

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Ex-bureaucrat wins Niigata governorship election

TOKYO, Japan - Hirohiko Izumida (C) and his supporters celebrate Izumi's victory in the Niigata gubernatorial election at his election campaign office in Niigata on Oct. 17. Izumida, a former Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry bureaucrat backed by the Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner New Komeito, becomes the youngest governor in Japan at 42.

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New science, technology minister Tanahashi is ex-bureaucrat, lawyer

TOKYO, Japan - Yasufumi Tanahashi, a third-term House of Representatives member, speaks at a press conference at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Sept. 27 after being appointed as state minister in charge of science and technology as well as information technology in the Cabinet reshuffle.

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JT appoints former MOF bureaucrat Wakui as chairman

TOKYO, Japan - Japan Tobacco Inc. (JT) said April 28 it has unofficially appointed Yoji Wakui (in file photo), the disgraced former director general of the Finance Ministry's Budget Bureau, as its chairman to succeed Tadashi Ogawa in June. Wakui resigned from the ministry after it emerged that he received an expensive lithograph as a wedding gift from a businessman who was later indicted on charges of evading taxes.

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Ishihara to fire JH head Fujii

TOKYO, Japan - Transport minister Nobuteru Ishihara in Tokyo on Oct. 6 heads for a TV interview on the firing of Japan Highway Public Corp. (JH) President Haruho Fujii. Fujii defied Ishihara's order to resign in connection with a financial scandal, prompting the minister to move to officially fire the former career bureaucrat.