Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, whose approval ratings have slid to their lowest since he took office, apologized on Friday for mishaps over a government plan to integrate people's tax and social security data into a single identification card.
Adding to his woes going into the weekend, one of Kishida's members of parliament resigned as a deputy minister earlier in the day amid allegations that he had accepted bribes from a wind power company.
"I apologize for the concerns that have spread among the public," Kishida said at a news conference held in a bid to ease concern over the identification card plan.
Public frustrations with the push for a single My Number card system have mounted after errors in its implementation came to light.
Such mishaps have included people's health insurance information being linked to the wrong social security account and welfare payments being made to the wrong person.
A Yomiuri newspaper poll in July found that the public approval rating for the Kishida administration had dipped to a low of 35%. The same poll found 52% of respondents did not support the government.
Earlier in the day, Tokyo prosecutors raided the office of ruling Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Masatoshi Akimoto on suspicion that he took bribes amounting to tens of millions of yen, according to public broadcaster NHK.
The foreign ministry later announced that Akimoto had stepped down from his post as a vice minister.
In his news conference, Kishida declined to comment directly on Akimoto, citing the ongoing investigation, but said he was "very disappointed that the situation has turned into one that sows distrust among the public."
Asked about the possibility that the alleged bribes accepted from a renewable energy company might be perceived as exploiting Japan's energy policy, Kishida said only that the government's policy on energy was "unwavering."
Calls to Akimoto's office went unanswered. Government spokesperson Hirokazu Matsuno declined to comment, saying that Akimoto had not spoken to him about the issue.
State broadcaster NHK and other media reported that Tokyo prosecutors suspect Japan Wind Development Co paid bribes to Akimoto.
The Tokyo-based company declined to comment, referring questions to its lawyer. Reuters was not able to reach the company's lawyer for comment.
A lawyer representing the company's president denied bribery, the Sankei newspaper reported.
© Thomson Reuters 2023.
26 Comments
sakurasuki
J Govt still go with my number even with many things happening surrounding M Number
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/08/04/japan/politics/kishida-confirms-plan-to-merge-my-number-and-health-insurance-card/
Mark
""Yomiuri newspaper poll in July found that the public approval rating for the Kishida administration had dipped to a low of 35%. The same poll found 52% of respondents did not support the government.""
Not surprised at all, more being done outward than inward and until that is reversed the numbers will continue to drop.
Zoroto
That's what happens when you are a vassal state to a powerful foreign power
virusrex
It is telling that from all the different things he could be apologizing he chooses the MNC.
Lindsay
More apologies! I’m sure everyone is getting very tired of hearing Japanese PMs apologize for their inadequacies. Instead of apologizing they should just fix it! That is why they have the top job. Get your finger out of your butt and do your job!
Eastman
and is that all?
i understand just returned back home for weekend as heading to some new trips anytime soon again ,but...should we think that problem is "solved"?
roninroshi
PM Kishida needs to spend a lot more time in Japan fixing serious issues here rather than hanging out with the WEF, G-7 and world leaders who could careless about Japan!
Simon Foston
roninroshiToday 09:39 am JST
Fixing serious issues in Japan isn't really in the LDP's mission statement. Apart from anything else it would imply that it was the LDP who let them become serious issues in the first place.
roninroshi
One more self indulgent political party…as in the US! The folks are basically on their own!
kurisupisu
When is Kishida in Japan to actually do his job?
He spends a lot of time flying here and there polluting our planet.
And what good is an apology without a cut in salary ?
Better yet, he should donate some of his wealth to planting trees…
Mark
I would love to get Mr. Kishida air mileage point , I bet I could travel around the world twice for FREE.
Redemption
Used Japan health insurance card for more than twenty years and never had any issue or glitch. I am not aware of any benefit that this new and complicated scheme brings to me.
shogun36
NOTHING Kishida or his boys have done, has earned ANY trust from the public.
kurisupisu
Kishida like the rest of them isn’t doing his job effectively.It is plain to see
Legrande
As usual LDP useless for the Japanese public, only useful for the US, who are always quick to condemn countries XYZ but never say a word about the blatant LDP corruption i.e. deep relationship with religious cult group, shambolic Olympics (set up and arranged by their beloved Abe), etc.
TokyoLiving
Kishi, you're a fraud..
Yubaru
Typical politician/PM for Japan. Apologize, but take zero responsibility. If any business or corporation screwed something up this badly, heads would be rolling, and more than likely the CEO would be doing a "apology" press conference, and bowing for cameras.
purple_depressed_bacon
What's the point of apologizing? Either fix the problem or go home. Ever wonder why Japan has so many prime ministers who never last long in office? Probably because they think apologizing is enough to make all the issues go away.
factchecker
Kishida is a d head.
Aoi Azuuri
LDP regime pour vast taxes into related corporations of "My Number", those corporations donating vast contribution to LDP.
And they intend to force costly but problematic system to general public.
Defective "My Number" system have even risk eliminate social vulnerables from medical or welfare services, ignore universal health insurance.
Besides, Nobody take responsibility about many loss or damage including data leaking that defective system will cause.
TaiwanIsNotChina
No one is talking to you but thank you for keeping my comment to Sister Jane alive.
Algernon LaCroix
You're right, because it's not supposed to benefit us, just the government and bureaucracy, who long ago abandoned any pretence of representing the people who pay their salaries.
Simon Foston
It doesn't matter how low his ratings slide as long as there's no opposition party that looks like a viable alternative to the LDP.