Outspoken new Prime Minister Taro Aso, known for his slips of the tongue, faced Upper House lawmakers Thursday and apologized for his past verbal gaffes.
During the upper chamber's plenary session, Aso repeated that his priority will be to pass the fiscal 2008 supplementary budget rather than quickly dissolving the Lower House for a snap election, given the worsening global financial crisis.
"I would like to apologize for my past careless remarks and for causing displeasure to related people," Aso said during the plenary session. "From now on, I will make statements while bearing in mind the gravity of the words of a prime minister."