Japan PM’s son dismissed as aide over official residence party

TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Monday he will remove his son from the position of his secretary due to “inappropriate behaviour” at the official residence. The decision comes after a magazine reported last week that Shotaro Kishida had invited relatives to the official residence for a party last year, with photos of some pretending to hold a press conference and one lying down on red-carpted stairs. “His behaviour last year at the public space was inappropriate for a political secretary, and we have decided to replace him,” Kishida told reporters. Shotaro will resign on June 1, he added.

Kishida had reprimanded his 32-year-old son, but criticism erupted from opposition parties, which called for his removal. Kishida had already come under fire because of his son, who used official cars while traveling in Europe to buy souvenirs for ministers.