Japanese minister apologises for being minutes late for meeting

Japan's Olympics Minister, Yoshitaka Sakurada, has apologised for arriving mere minutes late for a parliamentary meeting on Thursday.

Opposition MPs said his tardiness showed disrespect for his office and boycotted a meeting for five hours in protest. The minister was late by three minutes.

Recommended For You

Roblox launches age-based accounts, expanded parental controls

Trump denies he was trying to look like Jesus, deletes AI image after religious outcry

Cybercriminals shift tactics to target online shoppers

Umrah visa: What UAE pilgrims must know as Saudi Arabia exit deadline nears

Man City get into gear for another season finale run

 

The opposition has been critical of Sakurada after a series of gaffes.

Earlier this month, he said he felt let down after Olympic swimming hopeful Rikako Ikee was diagnosed with leukaemia.

He was then forced to apologise after being criticised.

Last year, Sakurada, who is also the cyber-security minister, said he had never used a computer, adding he had always delegated the work to his subordinates.

In a poll asking whether Mr Sakurada was suitable for the job, 65 per cent of respondents said he was not, while 13 per cent said he was.

Sakurada was made minister in October last year.

His duties include overseeing cyber-defence preparations for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.