Japanese Politicians and High-Ranking Officials Enjoy Gambling Despite COVID-19... Controversy Spreads Widely

▲Kurokawa Hiromu (63), Chief Prosecutor of the Tokyo High Public Prosecutors Office, known to have enjoyed playing Mahjong with reporters during the period when the national emergency was declared due to COVID-19

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] Japanese politicians and high-ranking public officials have been reported to have gambled despite the national emergency declared due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), sparking controversy. Among them is a figure known to be a close aide to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, which is expected to have a negative impact on the Abe administration, already severely affected by COVID-19.

According to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun on the 21st, Hiromu Kurokawa, Chief Prosecutor of the Tokyo High Public Prosecutors Office (63), reportedly played mahjong for money at the home of a Sankei Shimbun reporter in early May, along with two Sankei Shimbun reporters and four former Asahi Shimbun reporters. The issue arose because the timing of the mahjong game coincided with the period when Tokyo Metropolitan Government declared a state of emergency and issued a stay-at-home order due to COVID-19, causing controversy. Prosecutor Kurokawa is considered a close aide to Prime Minister Abe.

Upon learning of this fact, the Ministry of Justice and prosecution authorities began investigating the matter. Prosecutor Kurokawa reportedly admitted to playing mahjong for money with the reporters.

Justice Minister Masako Mori said on the same day, "The investigation will be completed today and announced in the evening," adding, "Strict disciplinary action will be taken."

The Nihon Keizai Shimbun quoted a government official as saying, "The successor to Prosecutor Kurokawa will be decided after some time."

▲Matsumura Toshiji, a Kanazawa City councilor in Ishikawa Prefecture, who is causing controversy for visiting a pachinko parlor after being diagnosed with COVID-19 and violating self-quarantine guidelines.

On the same day, according to the Mainichi Shimbun, Toshiji Matsumura, a member of the Kanazawa City Council in Ishikawa Prefecture who tested positive for COVID-19, was confirmed to have used pachinko during his home quarantine period.

On the afternoon of the 19th of this month, Councilor Matsumura visited a pachinko parlor in Kanagawa City and played games for about three hours. The fact that a city council member visited a gambling venue despite COVID-19 has been widely criticized by the public.

He was diagnosed with COVID-19 on the 4th of last month and was hospitalized for treatment before being discharged on the 7th of this month. Although Councilor Matsumura was instructed by his doctor to quarantine at home for two weeks after discharge, he violated this order. Moreover, he used the fact that he was under home quarantine as a reason to be absent from the city council's General Affairs Committee meeting held on the 15th.

Councilor Matsumura said, "I was thoughtless. I am reflecting on my actions," but added, "I have no intention of resigning from my position."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.