Affair Scandal with Actress 16 Years Younger... Japanese Political Heavyweight Says "It's True but I Won't Resign"

Japanese Opposition Leader Apologizes Saying "Report Mostly True" After Infidelity Allegations
However, Effectively Refuses to Resign from Parliament Seat

Japanese talent Koizumi Miyuki (left) and Tamaki Yuichiro, leader of the Democratic Party for the People. [Source=Instagram, Kyodo News]

On the day a special Diet session was convened to designate Japan's next prime minister, an affair involving opposition leader Yuichiro Tamaki (55), who held the casting vote in the prime ministerial election, was exposed.

On the 11th, the local weekly magazine Smart Flash reported, "Yuichiro Tamaki, leader of the Democratic Party for the People, had an affair with Miyuki Koizumi (39), a female talent who serves as a tourism ambassador for Takamatsu City in Kagawa Prefecture, his electoral district."

According to the report, local constituency officials said, "There have been rumors for some time that Representative Tamaki was involved in an extramarital affair." They added, "He appeared very close to the woman at local events and other occasions," and "Moreover, the two were seen entering and leaving hotels in Takamatsu city multiple times." On the night of the 30th of last month, Tamaki was also spotted leaving a wine bar in Shinjuku, Tokyo, wearing a hoodie, followed by Koizumi about 20 minutes later.

Admits Affair and Apologizes... But Effectively Refuses to Resign from Diet

As the allegations spread, Tamaki held an impromptu press conference that morning and said, "The reported content is largely true," adding, "I sincerely apologize from the bottom of my heart to my family and to the many people nationwide who had expectations of me. I am deeply ashamed." Regarding whether he would maintain his position as party leader, he stated, "I want to hear the opinions of my colleagues," indicating his intention to follow the party's decision. However, concerning resignation from his Diet seat, he said, "If forgiven, I want to fully devote myself to my duties as a Diet member," effectively refusing to resign.

On the 27th of last month, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) failed to secure a majority by winning 215 seats in the House of Representatives election, elevating Japan's political landscape's "kingmaker" status to the Democratic Party for the People. The LDP is cooperating with Tamaki and employing a strategy of casting "invalid votes" for Tamaki in both the first and runoff rounds of the prime ministerial election to re-elect Shigeru Ishiba as prime minister and seek to maintain power.