TOKYO (TR) – Yuichiro Tamaki, the leader of the Democratic Party For the People (DPFP), apologized on Monday following the emergence of reports detailing his extra-marital affair with a gravure idol.
At a hastily arranged press conference, the 55-year-old Tamaki said, “The contents reported this morning are generally true. I would like to sincerely apologize to the many people across the country who had high hopes for me. I am truly sorry,” according to Fuji News Network (Nov. 11).
According to some weekly magazines, the woman with whom he had an affair is Miyuki Koizumi, a 39-year-old former gravure idol who serves as a tourism ambassador for Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture.
On the news site Smart Flash, a report said that Tamaki and Koizumi held secret meetings. On the night of October 30, three days after the general election, the two had a “secret rendezvous” at a bar in Tokyo. They also stayed at the same hotel in Takamatsu in July.
“I told my family, especially my wife, everything,” Tamaki went on. “She strongly reprimanded me, saying, ‘What are you doing, with this kind of news being reported at such an important time?’ I completely agree with her, and I don’t think that any apology will ever get me forgiven, but I would like to continue apologizing.”
The use of “important time” refers to the DPFP’s proposed raising of the annual amount of income for tax exemption to 1.78 million yen, up from the current 1.03 million yen. Under the current threshold, Workers have reduced to avoid paying taxes. This, in turn, has caused businesses to suffer from labor shortages.
A reporter asked, “Do you think that someone who cannot uphold those ethics can lead the country?” Tamaki responded, “My wife told me exactly the same thing. People who cannot protect those closest to them cannot protect the country, and that is one of the things my wife has said to me so sternly. I will take those words to heart, reflect on my actions, and do my best to work in the national interest as much as possible and to realize policies, just as my wife told me.”
Tourism ambassador
Koizumi is a tourism ambassador for Takamatsu City. In light of the scandal, the city is considering removing her from the post. Koizumi, who is from the city, was appointed as tourism ambassador on December 23, 2019.
Regarding his future, Tamaki said, “If you will forgive me, I would like to repay you with my work as a member of parliament.” Regarding his future as president of the Democratic Party for the People, Tamaki said, “I would like to hear the opinions of my colleagues.”
At the General Meeting of House of Councillors, there was no call for his resignation. “Let’s all try again together, with Tamaki at the center, and do our best,” one member said.
