Japan’s second highest ranking prosecutor was compelled to resign last month after admitting he ignored social distancing measures to gamble for cash—with reporters, no less.
According to the Kyodo News, Hiromu Kurokawa, head of the Tokyo High Public Prosecutors Office, visited the home of a reporter from the Sankei Shimbun on May 1 and May 13. They and others played and bet on mahjong. An employee of another major Japanese daily newspaper, the Asahi Shimbun, was also in attendance, the report alleges.
Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner Komeito called for his resignation. Noritoshi Ishida, policy head of Komeito, stated, “If (the report) is true, he cannot continue his duties.”
Jiji Press also reported comments from an LDP member stating, “Kurokawa will have to quit shortly. It’s unforgivable for the person who is supposed to crack down on illegal gambling to play mahjong for money.”
On May 21, Kurokawa tendered his resignation.
Asia Gaming Brief called the resignation “a fresh setback for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe,” who has recently faced a series of public scandals linked to “his unpopular push to bulldozer through” legislation to establish a legal integrated resort industry. Several lawmakers in Abe’s camp were found to have accepted bribes linked to IR legislation.
Kurokawa allegedly played mahjong with reporters from the Sankei Shimun and the Asahi Shimbun on May 1 and May 13. Both newspapers ran articles on their front pages apologizing for the scandal.
