Drained by a chain of political money scandals, the Democratic Party of Japan-led coalition came under a fresh attack Thursday by a weekly magazine that accused the chairman of the National Public Safety Commission of shirking his duties by having an "inappropriate tryst" with a woman he is dating.
The latest issue of Shukan Shincho, which hit newsstands the same day, reported that Hiroshi Nakai, a widower, has been dating a Ginza bar hostess in her 30s and gave her a key and "free access" to the special lodgings for lawmakers and their families in Tokyo's Akasaka district that is financed by taxpayer money.
Nakai's act does not violate any rules or laws. But the magazine questioned his behavior, arguing that giving free access to someone not officially vetted raises security concerns for the lawmakers in residence, including high-profile ones.