TOKYO —

Cabinet ministers came to Prime Minister Taro Aso’s defense on Friday, rebutting criticism that their boss is indulging in an extravagant night life. ‘‘He is not spending large amounts of money at luxury Japanese restaurants,’’ internal affairs minister Kunio Hatoyama told reporters. Seiko Noda, state minister in charge of consumer affairs, said while it may be difficult to describe the premier as an average person given the amount of assets he owns, ‘‘Whether he is an average person or not, he should be given credit if he produces a policy that the people are satisfied with even a tiny bit.’‘
   
The opposition camp on Friday continued to assail Aso about his lifestyle, with Yukio Hatoyama, secretary general of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan. Touching on Aso’s recent ‘‘fact-finding’’ visit to a local supermarket, the DPJ secretary general added, ‘‘It’s just a pretense for the prime minister, who thinks bars in luxury hotels are inexpensive, to go to a supermarket and look at goods with high price tags.’’ Newspapers and TV stations have recently highlighted Aso’s frequent evening visits to luxury hotels such as the Imperial Hotel and Hotel Okura in Tokyo for meetings and other functions.
 

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4 Comments

• 

  franz75 at 09:06 AM JST - 25th October

  "difficult to describe the premier as an average person given the amount of assets he owns" Dude... He mights be rich because of his family but a part of his wealth is coming from the extravagant salaries "lawmakers" have.

  Economic measures? Cut the lawmaker salaries and put that money in pensions, children care and health. Vote for me.

• 

  Nessie at 09:11 AM JST - 25th October

  ‘‘He is not spending large amounts of money at luxury Japanese restaurants,’’ internal affairs minister Kunio Hatoyama told reporters.

  So who's paying, then?

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  apecNetworks at 04:12 PM JST - 25th October

  I don't know why PM Aso is being assailed in going to nice restaurants. If the funds are mostly private, people in general, including myself, would prefer to discuss serious topics in nice places in Akasaka, Roppongi, Omote Sando, Ginza, etc... If the topic is serious, it fits better to be in a top notch establishment for all concern - even to those who never could afford such expenses. It was and still is an attractive way to conduct discussions - I like Akasaka.

• 

  apecNetworks at 04:18 PM JST - 25th October

  Correction:

  As long as people like PM Aso is covering the tab.

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