Hotel Stay With Female Acquaintance During Official Trip... Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi's Close Secretary Dismissed
Invited Female Acquaintance to Hotel Five Times During Official Business Trip
Settled Additional Accommodation Fee Only After Media Inquiry Began
A close aide to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has been effectively dismissed after it was revealed that, while on an official business trip, he invited a female acquaintance to his hotel room and spent time with her there. The secretary in question did not immediately pay the additional accommodation fee incurred by her stay and only settled the amount out of his own pocket after media inquiries began.
On June 26, Yonhap News, citing Asahi Shimbun and other sources, reported that the Japanese government has decided to replace Mogi Tadashi, the chief secretary to Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara, effective June 30.
Keisuke Sasaki, Director-General for Policy Coordination at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, has been appointed as his successor.
Investigations found that, between May and September last year, while working at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Secretary Mogi invited a female acquaintance to his hotel room on five occasions during official business trips. On two of those occasions, she stayed with him until the following morning.
At the time, Secretary Mogi used the room at a single occupancy rate. Although an additional fee was charged for the woman’s stay, he did not pay it immediately. He only settled the payment with the hotel using his personal funds after media started investigating the matter.
Secretary Mogi reportedly admitted to all these facts during the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's investigation.
At a regular press conference on the day of the report, Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara refrained from providing specific details about the reason for Secretary Mogi’s replacement, stating, "I will refrain from commenting on individual personnel matters."
Regarding the investigation into the business trip and the additional payment reconciliation, he said, "Currently, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and other relevant bodies are conducting verification work."
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Secretary Mogi has been regarded as a close aide to Prime Minister Takaichi, having served as her secretary when she was Vice Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. When the Takaichi administration was inaugurated in October last year, he was appointed as the chief secretary to the Chief Cabinet Secretary—a government spokesperson role—but has stepped down after about eight months due to the controversy.
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