Justice Minister Hanashi Retracts More Comments
Japan's justice minister has apologized again and retracted more of his comments a day after he retracted a remark he made about his job.
Hanashi Yasuhiro faced criticism after saying at a party on Wednesday that his low-profile job makes headlines only when he authorizes executions. He apologized and retracted the words at the Diet on Thursday.
But on Friday morning, Hanashi said he had made similar comments at least four times at parties and other gatherings in his constituency and elsewhere.
He apologized at a Lower House Judicial Affairs Committee session and said he retracts those remarks, adding that he made them carelessly. Hanashi also said he apologized to Prime Minister Kishida Fumio in the morning.
He also retracted another comment he made at Wednesday's party, when he said the foreign and justice ministries do not have much luck with votes and money, and that he cannot collect money or drum up voter support as a justice minister.
He declined to retract the comment on Thursday, but said on Friday that he changed his mind, and that the remark was inaccurate and did not reflect what he wanted to say.
A committee member from the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party, Yoneyama Ryuichi, called on Hanashi to resign, expressing doubt that he can still serve as a minister in a fair manner.
Hanashi declined to step down, saying that deciding whether to authorize executions is extremely important. He added that he will perform his duty as justice minister prudently and rigorously, based on the law.