Lower House member Takaya Muto, who quit the Liberal Democratic Party on Wednesday over allegations of a financial scandal, has come under fire among his constituents in Shiga Prefecture for betraying their trust, and faces an uncertain future as an independent politician.
The controversial 36-year-old lawmaker was first elected to the Lower House in December 2012. He won re-election last December by a margin of nearly 20,000 votes. Muto represents Shiga's No. 4 district, which includes Omihachiman, known among modern gourmands as the center of Omi beef.
On Thursday, LDP coalition partner Komeito weighed in on the controversy.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.