Makiko Yamada, a Cabinet Public Relations Secretary who was entertained by the eldest son of Prime Minister Suga, who works for a satellite broadcasting company, was hospitalized on the 28th due to poor physical condition and resigned on the 1st.

I summarized the process leading up to my resignation.

Entertainment of over 74,000 yen

It was revealed that Mr. Yamada was receiving entertainment.

It was the 22nd of last month.

Regarding a dinner between executives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications and the eldest son of Prime Minister Suga who works for a satellite broadcasting related company, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications announced the results of a survey that a total of 11 employees were receiving entertainment that violated the ethical code. ..


Apart from this, in November, when Mr. Yamada, a Cabinet Public Relations Secretary, was a general affairs deputy director of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, he had a dinner with four people including the eldest son of Prime Minister Suga and the president of Tohokushinsha. It was revealed that each person received about 74,000 yen of entertainment at one time.



Mr. Yamada replied through the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications at the Budget Committee of the House of Representatives on February 15 that he had no clear memory of having dinner with Prime Minister Suga's eldest son, but after that he confirmed with the Tohokushinsha side. By the way, it turned out that he was having a dinner.

"Wagyu steak and seafood dishes"

Mr. Yamada received a large amount of entertainment that exceeded 70,000 yen per person at one time.


On the 24th, Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato said that Mr. Yamada received food and drink entertainment at the House of Representatives Cabinet Committee, saying, "The specific contents are not clear," and


"Japanese beef steak and seafood dishes were provided. However, it is reported that the total amount is 371,013 yen, which is the amount divided by five participants. "

Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato revealed that Mr. Yamada had offered to voluntarily return six-tenths of his monthly salary.

On this day, Prime Minister Suga told reporters at the Prime Minister's Office, "I am extremely regrettable that there was a case of violation of the National Civil Service Ethics Law."


On the other hand, he said, "I was not aware of such violations when I appointed him," and Prime Minister Suga said, "I regret it sincerely and return my salary. It is a fact. I instructed Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato to pay close attention. I hope that Cabinet Public Relations Secretary Yamada will continue to do his best in his duties. "

"I didn't work"

On the 25th, Mr. Yamada attended the Budget Committee of the House of Representatives and asked questions.



In this, Mr. Yamada said, "I deeply regret that the act of violating the National Civil Service Ethics Law while I was in office at the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications has damaged the credibility of public employees. I am very sorry."


"I was relaxed and I didn't have enough checks to see if I was a stakeholder," he said.

On the other hand, he denied resigning, saying, "While continuing my duties, I would like to reflect on myself and improve myself while carefully considering everyone's ideas."



Regarding the contents of the dinner, Mr. Yamada said, "I remember that it was beef steak and seafood dishes," and said, "Did you recognize in advance that Prime Minister Suga's eldest son was there?" I don't think it was. I don't think it was a big fact for me that my eldest son was there. "



"There may have been talk about the reality of the broadcasting industry as a whole, but as a whole, it was a general discussion and I recognize that there was no work to do," he said.



Mr. Yamada said, "This one meeting with satellite broadcasting affiliated companies has only been confirmed. We sometimes had dinner with other companies according to the rules as needed." Said.



However, the opposition party demanded that the Cabinet Public Relations Secretary be stopped, saying that Mr. Yamada's explanation was insufficient.

Hospitalized due to poor physical condition And ...

Mr. Yamada was scheduled to attend the intensive deliberation of the Budget Committee of the House of Representatives on the 1st, but was hospitalized from the 28th.

It has become clear that he has decided to resign as a Cabinet Public Relations Secretary and has submitted his resignation.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato said at the beginning of the Budget Committee of the House of Representatives, "Makiko Yamada, a Cabinet Public Relations Secretary who was scheduled to attend the Budget Committee, visited her hospital yesterday evening due to poor physical condition and said," I was hospitalized for about two weeks. I was hospitalized after being diagnosed as "necessary". "



After that, he said, "It is difficult for him to continue to perform his duties," and the hospital told Deputy Secretary Sugita that he would resign. That night, Deputy Secretary Suga reported to Prime Minister Suga and myself. Judging that it was "unavoidable". The application for retirement was submitted today, and the Cabinet Secretariat has just ended. We apologize for the inconvenience caused to the deliberation. "



In the intensive deliberation of the Budget Committee of the House of Representatives, Prime Minister Suga said, "I am very sorry and deeply apologize to the people for the fact that my family was involved and as a result the civil servants violated the ethical law. We must deeply regret the fact that the situation has greatly damaged our trust. "

What is Makiko Yamada?

Mr. Yamada is 60 years old from Tokyo.

In 1984, he joined the former Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications and was appointed as the first female secretary to the Prime Minister in the second Abe administration. It was.


Last September, the Kan Cabinet appointed Mr. Yamada as the first female Cabinet Public Relations Secretary.

He was the facilitator at the press conference of Prime Minister Suga.