'Basically true': Japan opposition leader Yuichiro Tamaki admits to extra-marital affair

Yuichiro Tamaki, leader of Japan's opposition Democratic Party for the People ( DPP), admitted to a tabloid report of his extramarital affair with a model, calling it “basically true,” according to Reuters.

In a sudden news conference, Tamaki, who has gained attention as a possible kingmaker in the selection of Japan's next prime minister, publicly apologised, saying, “I apologise for the trouble caused.” The report, published by the tabloid SmartFlash, claimed Tamaki, 55, met with a 39-year-old model and entertainer in July and October. It even included a photo of Tamaki in a grey hoodie leaving a bar, with the woman reportedly leaving 20 minutes later.

Tamaki told reporters he would consult with party members to decide if he should resign from his role as DPP leader. Reflecting on the affair, he said, “My wife had told me, ‘You can't protect the country if you can't protect the person closest to you.’ I will etch those words in my mind once again, reflect on my actions and do my best to work in a way that is in the best interests of the country and to realise policies.”

Japan’s lawmakers are scheduled to gather for a special parliamentary session on Monday to determine whether Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba should continue as premier. This follows a recent election loss that left Ishiba’s coalition without a parliamentary majority.

Previously, Tamaki indicated that while his party would not directly support Ishiba, they could collaborate with his Liberal Democratic Party on certain policies.

Inputs from Reuters