Japan’s Kishida under fire for ‘poor’ hiring decisions after aide makes anti-LGBT remarks

PM Fumio Kishida has lost yet another person in his inner circle, prompting questions over his ability to judge good talent

While he swiftly sacked Masayoshi Arai, LGBTQ activists say the move is hollow as politicians take their cue from the prime minister, who opposes marriage equality

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Published: 7:21pm, 6 Feb 2023

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida faces growing scrutiny over the calibre of his inner circle, after he had to dump a key aide who made discriminatory comments against the LGBTQ community

Kishida on Saturday replaced executive secretary Masayoshi Arai, after he gave local media his personal stance on legalising same-sex marriages. “I would hate it if [a same-sex couple] lived next to me. I would hate to even see them,” 55-year-old Arai was quoted as saying on Friday.

Arai’s removal comes after four members of Kishida’s cabinet have resigned in recent months over questionable behaviour, including economic revitalisation minister Daishiro Yamagiwa, who was found to have links with the Unification Church, and internal affairs minister Minoru Terada, who quit over a series of financial scandals.

“The resignations and questions that are being asked would appear to speak for themselves when it comes to Kishida’s appointments,” said Hiromi Murakami, a professor of political science at the Tokyo campus of Temple University. “It seems clear that he did not take adequate care when he was selecting people to be in his cabinet or to act as his advisers.”

Most recently, fingers have also been pointed at Kishida’s son Shotaro Kishida, whose appointment last year as an executive secretary to his father attracted accusations of nepotism. The criticism ramped up after it emerged that he used an official vehicle while in London in December to buy souvenirs for cabinet members while his father attended talks with global leaders.

A Pride parade in Tokyo in 2017. Photo: AP

While Arai’s comments were not fatal to Kishida’s government, Murakami said they damaged his standing when he was already struggling with public support rates in the low 30 per cent range over policies and personnel.

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