LDP Lawmaker Visits Late-Night Bar with Former Idol Woman During State of Emergency

LDP's Largest Faction Hosoda-ha Member... Blow to Prime Minister Suga

Takaki Shirasuka, a member of the Liberal Democratic Party who was found to have visited a bar late at night during the state of emergency, bowed his head in front of the press on the 17th. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] A member of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has caused controversy after it was revealed that he visited a high-end bar late at night during the state of emergency declared for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

On the 17th, the Japanese weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun reported that Takaki Shirasuka, an LDP member of the House of Representatives, visited a high-end "lounge" in Tokyo on the night of the 10th. In Japan, a lounge typically refers to a women-hosted bar operated on a membership basis.

According to Shukan Bunshun, on that day, Representative Shirasuka moved to Roppongi after finishing the House of Representatives Budget Committee meeting. He visited a mansion and, accompanied by a former idol female model, ate a course meal at a high-end French restaurant before taking a taxi to "Lounge X" located in Azabujuban, Minato Ward. Shukan Bunshun reported that Representative Shirasuka stayed there until 10 p.m.

Since the 8th of last month, Tokyo has been under a state of emergency, with shortened business hours for restaurants and recommendations to refrain from going out. As the government recommends restaurants and bars to close by 9 p.m., the revelation that a ruling party lawmaker visited a high-end bar late at night sparked a wave of criticism in Japan.

Following the expansion of the controversy due to the weekly magazine report, Representative Shirasuka submitted his resignation from the party to Toshihiro Nikai, the LDP Secretary-General. Belonging to the largest faction of the LDP, the Hosoda faction, he apologized in front of reporters and expressed his intention not to run in the next House of Representatives election, Kyodo News reported.

Earlier, last month, three LDP members resigned after it was revealed that they held a late-night gathering at a club in Ginza, Tokyo.

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