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Japan PM Ishiba at parliament

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks during a House of Representatives plenary session in Tokyo on May 20, 2025, over farm minister Taku Eto's gaffe on rice.

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Japan PM Ishiba at parliament

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba apologizes during a House of Representatives plenary session in Tokyo on May 20, 2025, over farm minister Taku Eto's gaffe on rice.

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Japan PM Ishiba at parliament

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba apologizes during a House of Representatives plenary session in Tokyo on May 20, 2025, over farm minister Taku Eto's gaffe on rice.

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Shizuoka gov. to resign amid backlash over gaffe

SHIZUOKA, Japan, April 3 Kyodo - Shizuoka Gov. Heita Kawakatsu holds a press conference at the prefectural government office in the central Japan city of Shizuoka on April 3, 2024, a day after he said he will resign amid backlash over his latest gaffe. (Kyodo)

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Shizuoka gov. to resign amid backlash over gaffe

Shizuoka Gov. Heita Kawakatsu holds a press conference at the prefectural government office in the central Japan city of Shizuoka on April 3, 2024, a day after he said he will resign amid backlash over his latest gaffe.

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Shizuoka gov. to resign amid backlash over gaffe

Shizuoka Gov. Heita Kawakatsu holds a press conference at the prefectural government office in the central Japan city of Shizuoka on April 3, 2024, a day after he said he will resign amid backlash over his latest gaffe.

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Shizuoka gov. to resign amid backlash over gaffe

Shizuoka Gov. Heita Kawakatsu holds a press conference at the prefectural government office in the central Japan city of Shizuoka on April 3, 2024, a day after he said he will resign amid backlash over his latest gaffe.

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Shizuoka gov. to resign amid backlash over gaffe

Shizuoka Gov. Heita Kawakatsu holds a press conference at the prefectural government office in the central Japan city of Shizuoka on April 3, 2024, a day after he said he will resign amid backlash over his latest gaffe.

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Japan public safety chief under fire on gaffe

Japanese National Public Safety Commission chief Koichi Tani meets the press in Tokyo on April 26, 2023, following a gaffe he made at a party the previous day held by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. He came under fire after saying he kept eating a "delicious" bowl of grilled eel rice even after being notified of the explosives attack on Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

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Japan public safety chief under fire on gaffe

Japanese National Public Safety Commission chief Koichi Tani meets the press in Tokyo on April 26, 2023, following a gaffe he made at a party the previous day held by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. He came under fire after saying he kept eating a "delicious" bowl of grilled eel rice even after being notified of the explosives attack on Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

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Japan justice minister resigns

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese Justice Minister Minoru Yanagida (L) announces his resignation during a press conference at the Justice Ministry in Tokyo on Nov. 22, 2010, after coming under fire for a verbal gaffe. Yanagida said Prime Minister Naoto Kan told him to step down so the government could deflect criticism by the opposition camp and enlist its help in a bid to have an extra budget clear the parliament.

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Japan justice minister resigns

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese Justice Minister Minoru Yanagida (L) announces his resignation during a press conference at the Justice Ministry in Tokyo on Nov. 22, 2010, after coming under fire for a verbal gaffe. Yanagida said Prime Minister Naoto Kan told him to step down so the government could deflect criticism by the opposition camp and enlist its help in a bid to have an extra budget clear the parliament.

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Justice minister under pressure to resign

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan (L), Environment Minister Ryu Matsumoto (C) and Justice Minister Minoru Yanagida (R) head to a Cabinet meeting in the Diet building in Tokyo on Nov. 19, 2010. Yanagida is under pressure from the opposition camp to step down over a gaffe.

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Gaffe-prone Sengoku under fire

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku (L) raises his hand during a session of the upper house budget committee attended by Prime Minister Naoto Kan on Nov. 18, 2010. Sengoku, the top government spokesman, has been under fire over a series of gaffes.

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Gaffe-prone Sengoku under fire

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku raises his hand during a session of the upper house budget committee on Nov. 18, 2010. Sengoku, the top government spokesman, has been under fire over a series of gaffes.

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Aso says having children 'obligation,' later retracts remark

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Taro Aso speaks at a House of Representatives Budget Committee session on May 7. The gaffe-prone premier told the session that he has fulfilled an ''obligation'' because he has two children, but he later retracted the remark.

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Aso orders gov't to draw up fresh stimulus steps, eyes extra budget

TOKYO, Japan - Gaffe-prone Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso uses a teleprompter to read a prepared text during a press conference at his office March 31. The premier said he ordered his administration staff to compile fresh economic measures by mid-April.

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Yanagisawa draws flak again, saying 'healthy' people have 2 kids

TOKYO, Japan - Health minister Hakuo Yanagisawa responds to questions from reporters on Feb. 6 after he drew more flak from opposition lawmakers and some critics for saying ''healthy'' young people want to have at least two children just as the dust seemed to be settling over his earlier gaffe describing women as breeding machines.

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Voting under way in closely watched Aichi election

NAGOYA, Japan - A couple vote their ballots watched by their daughters in Nagoya as voting began in the gubernatorial election in Aichi Prefecture on Feb. 4. A state-level political rivalry is heating up between the ruling and opposition camps over a recent gaffe by the welfare minister and money scandals involving other Cabinet members.

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Ruling bloc gets extra budget through lower house amid boycott

TOKYO, Japan - The plenary session of the House of Representatives approves a fiscal 2006 supplementary budget on Feb. 2 in the absence of the opposition parties, which boycotted budget committee deliberations and the plenary session vote over a gaffe by the health minister.

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Health minister apologizes over his gaffe

TOKYO, Japan - Health minister Hakuo Yanagisawa (front) apologizes at a plenary session of the House of Representatives on Jan. 29 for his gaffe of calling women ''birth-giving machines.'' At right in back is Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

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Caricatured Mori highly popular on Web

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, whose popularity in opinion polls has been plunging, is proving highly popular on a Web site in which he appears in a ''gaffe prevention suit,'' which looks like a spacesuit. The parody site is called ''The Official Residence of the Pseudo-Prime Minister,'' and replicates the design of the prime minister's official Web site.

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Japan justice minister under fire for gaffe over death penalty

Japanese Justice Minister Yasuhiro Hanashi (R, front) apologizes during a House of Councillors plenary session in Tokyo on Nov. 11, 2022, over recent remarks widely seen as making light of his role in authorizing the execution of death-row inmates. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida can be seen to the left.

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Japan justice minister under fire for gaffe over death penalty

Japanese Justice Minister Yasuhiro Hanashi apologizes during a House of Councillors plenary session in Tokyo on Nov. 11, 2022, over recent remarks widely seen as making light of his role in authorizing the execution of death-row inmates.

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Japan justice minister under fire for gaffe over death penalty

Japanese Justice Minister Yasuhiro Hanashi (C) meets the press at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Nov. 10, 2022, to explain his recent remarks widely seen as making light of his role in authorizing death-row inmate executions.

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Japan justice minister under fire for gaffe over death penalty

Japanese Justice Minister Yasuhiro Hanashi (C) meets the press at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Nov. 10, 2022, to explain his recent remarks widely seen as making light of his role in authorizing death-row inmate executions.

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Japan justice minister under fire for gaffe over death penalty

Japanese Justice Minister Yasuhiro Hanashi apologizes at a House of Councillors committee session in Tokyo on Nov. 10, 2022, for his recent remarks widely seen as making light of his role in authorizing death-row inmate executions.

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Japan justice minister under fire for gaffe over death penalty

Japanese Justice Minister Yasuhiro Hanashi apologizes at a House of Councillors committee session in Tokyo on Nov. 10, 2022, for his recent remarks widely seen as making light of his role in authorizing death-row inmate executions.

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Health minister apologizes over his gaffe

TOKYO, Japan - Health minister Hakuo Yanagisawa (front) apologizes at a plenary session of the House of Representatives on Jan. 29 for his gaffe of calling women ''birth-giving machines.'' At right in back is Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. (Kyodo)

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Ruling bloc gets extra budget through lower house amid boycott

TOKYO, Japan - The plenary session of the House of Representatives approves a fiscal 2006 supplementary budget on Feb. 2 in the absence of the opposition parties, which boycotted budget committee deliberations and the plenary session vote over a gaffe by the health minister. (Kyodo)

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Voting under way in closely watched Aichi election

NAGOYA, Japan - A couple vote their ballots watched by their daughters in Nagoya as voting began in the gubernatorial election in Aichi Prefecture on Feb. 4. A state-level political rivalry is heating up between the ruling and opposition camps over a recent gaffe by the welfare minister and money scandals involving other Cabinet members. (Kyodo)

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Yanagisawa draws flak again, saying 'healthy' people have 2 kids

TOKYO, Japan - Health minister Hakuo Yanagisawa responds to questions from reporters on Feb. 6 after he drew more flak from opposition lawmakers and some critics for saying ''healthy'' young people want to have at least two children just as the dust seemed to be settling over his earlier gaffe describing women as breeding machines. (Kyodo)

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Aso orders gov't to draw up fresh stimulus steps, eyes extra budg

TOKYO, Japan - Gaffe-prone Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso uses a teleprompter to read a prepared text during a press conference at his office March 31. The premier said he ordered his administration staff to compile fresh economic measures by mid-April. (Kyodo)

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Aso says having children 'obligation,' later retracts remark

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Taro Aso speaks at a House of Representatives Budget Committee session on May 7. The gaffe-prone premier told the session that he has fulfilled an ''obligation'' because he has two children, but he later retracted the remark. (Kyodo)

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Disaster minister ready to resign over quake gaffe

Japan's disaster reconstruction minister Masahiro Imamura bows in apology while speaking to reporters at a hotel in Tokyo on April 25, 2017, following his latest gaffe about the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan. Imamura said it was "a good thing" that the disaster struck northeastern Japan rather than the Tokyo area. According to a source close to the ruling coalition, Imamura later indicated his readiness to resign. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Disaster minister ready to resign over quake gaffe

Japan's disaster reconstruction minister Masahiro Imamura speaks to reporters at a hotel in Tokyo on April 25, 2017, following his latest gaffe about the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan. Imamura said it was "a good thing" that the disaster struck northeastern Japan rather than the Tokyo area. According to a source close to the ruling coalition, Imamura later indicated his readiness to resign. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Japan justice minister resigns

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese Justice Minister Minoru Yanagida (L) announces his resignation during a press conference at the Justice Ministry in Tokyo on Nov. 22, 2010, after coming under fire for a verbal gaffe. Yanagida said Prime Minister Naoto Kan told him to step down so the government could deflect criticism by the opposition camp and enlist its help in a bid to have an extra budget clear the parliament. (Kyodo)

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Japan justice minister resigns

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese Justice Minister Minoru Yanagida (L) announces his resignation during a press conference at the Justice Ministry in Tokyo on Nov. 22, 2010, after coming under fire for a verbal gaffe. Yanagida said Prime Minister Naoto Kan told him to step down so the government could deflect criticism by the opposition camp and enlist its help in a bid to have an extra budget clear the parliament. (Kyodo)

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Justice minister under pressure to resign

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan (L), Environment Minister Ryu Matsumoto (C) and Justice Minister Minoru Yanagida (R) head to a Cabinet meeting in the Diet building in Tokyo on Nov. 19, 2010. Yanagida is under pressure from the opposition camp to step down over a gaffe. (Kyodo)

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Gaffe-prone Sengoku under fire

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku (L) raises his hand during a session of the upper house budget committee attended by Prime Minister Naoto Kan on Nov. 18, 2010. Sengoku, the top government spokesman, has been under fire over a series of gaffes. (Kyodo)

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Gaffe-prone Sengoku under fire

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku raises his hand during a session of the upper house budget committee on Nov. 18, 2010. Sengoku, the top government spokesman, has been under fire over a series of gaffes. (Kyodo)

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Japan's gaffe-prone Olympics minister resigns

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe meets the press in Tokyo on April 10, 2019, after receiving a letter of resignation from Olympics minister Yoshitaka Sakurada over a series of gaffes. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Japan's gaffe-prone Olympics minister resigns

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe meets the press in Tokyo on April 10, 2019, after receiving a letter of resignation from Olympics minister Yoshitaka Sakurada over a series of gaffes. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Japan's gaffe-prone Olympics minister resigns

Undated file photo shows Japan's Olympics minister Yoshitaka Sakurada, who resigned on April 10, 2019, to take the blame for a series of gaffes. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Japan's gaffe-prone Olympics minister resigns

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe meets the press in Tokyo on April 10, 2019, after receiving a letter of resignation from Olympics minister Yoshitaka Sakurada over a series of gaffes. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Japan's gaffe-prone Olympics minister resigns

Japan's Olympics minister Yoshitaka Sakurada meets the press in Tokyo on April 10, 2019, after offering a letter of resignation to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to take the blame for a series of gaffes. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Japan's gaffe-prone Olympics minister resigns

Japan's Olympics minister Yoshitaka Sakurada meets the press in Tokyo on April 10, 2019, after offering a letter of resignation to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to take the blame for a series of gaffes. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Japan's gaffe-prone Olympics minister resigns

Japan's Olympics minister Yoshitaka Sakurada meets the press in Tokyo on April 10, 2019, after offering a letter of resignation to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to take the blame for a series of gaffes. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Ex-Abe Cabinet member makes gaffe

File photo shows Kozo Yamamoto, a former member of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Cabinet, who made a controversial remark about Africans during a meeting with fellow Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers in Fukuoka Prefecture on Nov. 23, 2017. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Opposition calls for sacking of new Okinawa minister after gaffe

Tetsuma Esaki (C), the new minister in charge of issues related to Okinawa, is surrounded by reporters at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Aug. 7, 2017, after he made a gaffe just two days after being given the post in the latest Cabinet reshuffle. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo