TOKYO, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Tatsunori Ibayashi publicly apologized on Thursday over a political fundraising event he allegedly held in violation of government rules, public broadcaster NHK reported.
Ibayashi made the apology at a meeting convened by the Committee on Land and Transport of the House of Councillors, following questions from opposition lawmakers.
According to the report, Ibayashi hosted a political fundraising event in Tokyo on Oct. 26, inviting his supporters to attend. Under the ethics code for Japanese cabinet ministers, however, ministers and other senior government officials are, in principle, expected to refrain from holding such events while in office.
Some opposition lawmakers questioned Ibayashi over the event, arguing that it may have violated the relevant rules.
Responding to the criticism, Ibayashi said he had failed to give the matter sufficient consideration at a time when "the conduct of cabinet ministers was under close public scrutiny," adding that he was "deeply sorry."
Ibayashi joined the cabinet for the first time in a reshuffle in September. Since the reshuffle, several ministers in Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's cabinet have come under fire over controversies, putting pressure on the Takaichi administration's public support.
Opinion polls released by Kyodo News and other organizations in October showed a marked decline in the cabinet's approval ratings. ■