Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara, an ex-transport minister, award-winning writer, Yasukuni Shrine pilgrim known for firing racist and sexist remarks from the lips, has recently drawn flak for taking pricey trips on taxpayer money and nepotism for choosing his son to work on an event he sponsored in Switzerland.
But despite the public outcry, the hawkish politician remains the front-runner for the April 8 gubernatorial election, and no contender appears strong enough to take him on.
The media have glommed onto the overspending, but just as much attention has been given to the row that has developed between Ishihara and the Japanese Communist Party, which revealed the details of his spending sprees.