(Update) LDP's Tsuruho under Fire for Noto Quake Gaffe
Tokyo, July 9 (Jiji Press)--Yosuke Tsuruho, a House of Councillors lawmaker from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, has come under fire for his gaffe about a powerful earthquake that struck the Noto Peninsula in central Japan last year.
During a campaign speech in the western city of Wakayama on Tuesday, Tsuruho said, "It was lucky that the earthquake occurred in Noto."
The remark came as the chairman of the Upper House Budget Committee appeared to be expressing hopes that the quake would facilitate lifestyles in which people live in both urban and rural areas. The government is promoting such lifestyles as a way to revitalize rural areas facing population decline.
Tsuruho withdrew the remark and apologized later Tuesday.
At a press conference in Wakayama on Wednesday, Tsuruho reiterated his apology and said, "I lacked consideration for the disaster-hit areas." He denied any plans to leave the LDP or resign as lawmaker.
(2025/07/09-21:46)
To read a full story, please click here to find out how to subscribe.
NATIONAL
-
07/10 13:55 Japan Producer Prices Up 2.9 Pct in June - 07/10 13:50 TSE Plans Exception to Growth Section Capitalization Rule
-
07/10 11:34 Emperor, Empress Meet with Japanese Residents in Mongolia - 07/10 11:25 U.S. Treasury Sec. Bessent to Visit Osaka Expo July 19
- 07/10 09:48 Japan to Cut Price of Alzheimer's Drug Lecanemab
- 07/10 09:30 2025 POLLS: Japanese Parties Divided on Defense Spending Increase
- 07/10 08:30 2025 POLLS: Parties Losing Enthusiasm for Political Reform
- 07/09 22:24 Ishiba Vows No Easy Concessions in Tariff Talks with U.S.
- 07/09 21:46 (Update) LDP's Tsuruho under Fire for Noto Quake Gaffe
- 07/09 21:23 Pest Outbreaks Feared to Affect Rice Harvests Again
- 07/09 20:59 Yusaku Maezawa's Firm Found with Tax Declaration Error
- 07/09 20:41 More Residents Evacuate Quake-Hit Remote Island in Japan
- 07/09 19:56 Emperor Naruhito Visits "Kosen" Tech School in Mongolia
- 07/09 19:25 Police Double Staff for Lone Offenders after Abe Shooting
- 07/09 18:52 Japan Signs Pact to Boost Direct Investment from Britain
- 07/09 16:58 2025 POLLS: Opposition Cooperation in Shiga Pref. Showing Cracks
- 07/09 16:39 Ishiba, Ruling LDP Rocked by Trump Tariff Decision as Election Looms
- 07/09 16:07 Japan Unable to Present Volcanic Activity Outlook for Shinmoedake
- 07/09 15:37 GSDF Begins Osprey Deployment to Camp in Southwestern Japan
- 07/09 12:09 Japan, Canada Sign Information Security Agreement
- 07/09 11:12 U.S. Treasury Sec. Bessent Planning to Visit Osaka Expo
- 07/09 09:38 Japan Emperor Gives Video Speech at U.N. Water, Disaster Event
- 07/09 09:00 2025 POLLS: Premiums, Wages Are Focus in Social Security Debate
- 07/08 23:46 Emperor, Empress Mourn Japanese who Died in Mongolia
- 07/08 21:37 Over 10,000 People Sent to Hospital due to Heatstroke Last Week
- 07/08 21:23 Akazawa, Lutnick Agree to Continue Tariff Talks
- 07/08 20:54 Iwaya to Attend ASEAN-Related Meetings in Kuala Lumpur
- 07/08 20:33 Taiwan Hails Nagasaki's Approval for Attending Peace Ceremony
- 07/08 19:18 UNESCO Panel Nixes S. Korean Request over Japan Heritage Site
- 07/08 18:55 Ex-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Remembered in His Constituency
- 07/08 18:23 More Residents to Evacuate Quake-Hit Remote Island in Japan
- 07/08 18:01 White House Displays Portrait of Truman, Who Ordered A-Bombing
- 07/08 17:37 Yen Tumbles to 2-Week Low over Trump Tariff Letter
- 07/08 17:16 Japan to Set Up Control Tower for Crimes by Foreigners
- 07/08 17:05 Ishiba Thanks Outgoing S. Korean Envoy
- 07/08 15:50 Japan Emperor, Empress Attend Welcome Ceremony in Mongolia
- 07/08 15:19 Ex-Japan PM Abe Mourned 3 Years after Shooting
- 07/08 14:45 2025 POLLS: Single-Seat Districts Hold Key to Election Success
- 07/08 13:46 Japan's Current Account Surplus Hits Record High for May
- 07/08 13:33 Ishiba Expresses Regret over Trump's Tariff Decision
- 07/08 12:55 Japan to Examine Tougher Defamation Penalties
- 07/08 11:33 (Update 2) Many Wounds Found on Women Killed in Central Japan Girl Bar
- 07/08 10:36 Japan Releases Guidelines on Shooting Urban Bears
- 07/08 10:33 (Update) U.S. Announces 25 Pct Tariffs for Japan
- 07/08 09:26 (Update) Many Wounds Found on Women Killed in Central Japan Girl Bar
- 07/08 09:00 Japan Launches Body to Foster Female Digital Experts
- 07/08 09:00 2025 POLLS: Nippon Ishin Faces Key Test in Birthplace Osaka
- 07/08 07:51 U.S. Announces 25 Pct Tariffs on Imports from Japan
- 07/07 22:01 TEPCO to Move Spent N-Fuel from Fukushima to Mutsu
- 07/07 21:50 (Update) Scandal-Hit Mayor in Shizuoka to Resign, Seek Re-election
- 07/07 20:37 Mercury Tops 35 C in Tokyo for 1st Time This Year
- 07/07 20:37 (Update) Japan Emperor Visits Water-Related Facilities in Mongolia
- 07/07 20:20 2025 POLLS: DPFP's Bullish Strategy in Tokyo Hit Snags
- 07/07 20:19 New Listings on Japan Exchanges Fall 26.3 Pct in Jan.-June
- 07/07 19:50 Japan Average Rice Price Down for 6th Straight Week
- 07/07 19:26 Chinese Vice Premier Likely to Visit Japan for Expo This Week
- 07/07 18:58 Czech Team Crosses Eurasia in Vintage Cars for Osaka Expo
- 07/07 17:59 Shizuoka City's Mayor Urged to Resign over Academic Record Scandal
- 07/07 16:46 2025 POLLS: Ruling, Opposition Parties Battle over Inflation Relief
- 07/07 16:17 Woman Recounts Deadly U.S. Airstrikes of Chiba 80 Years Ago
- 07/07 15:12 Japan Eyeing New Target for Eliminating Utility Poles
- 07/07 15:04 Japan's Coincident Index Down 0.1 Point in May
- 07/07 10:23 Japan's Akazawa, Lutnick of U.S. Hold In-Depth Tariff Talks
- 07/07 09:42 2 U.S. Servicemen Arrested in Okinawa for Assault
- 07/07 08:30 Voters Scrutinize Stump Speeches for Japan Upper House Election
- 07/07 00:20 Girls' Bar Manager, Employee Stabbed to Death in Shizuoka
- 07/06 23:11 2025 POLLS: Ishiba Says "No Compromise" in Tariff Negotiations
- 07/06 19:45 (Update) Japan Emperor, Empress Arrive in Mongolia
- 07/06 18:19 (Update) More Residents Evacuate Quake-Hit Remote Islands in Japan
- 07/06 17:46 Hiroshima Chef Inspired by 2018 Disaster Develops Low-Sodium Pizza
- 07/06 16:14 Victims Mourned 7 Years after Western Japan Rain Disaster
- 07/06 14:36 More Residents Evacuate Quake-Hit Remote Islands in Japan
- 07/06 13:19 Japan Emperor, Empress Leave for Mongolia
- 07/05 22:31 Locker-to-Hotel Luggage Delivery Service Expanding in Japan
- 07/05 18:50 Taiwan Likely to Attend Nagasaki Peace Ceremony
- 07/05 18:31 (Update) Another Strong Quake Hits off Tokara Islands
- 07/05 18:16 Memory of Detention in Mongolia Still Fresh for 107-Yr-Old Japanese
- 07/05 16:22 Sudo Wins Her 11th N.Y. Hot Dog Eating Contest
- 07/05 15:18 Govt to Release Stockpiled Rice for Processed Foods from Aug.
- 07/05 13:35 Another Strong Quake Hits off Tokara Islands
- 07/05 09:00 2025 POLLS: Debates on Disaster Management Lacking Momentum
- 07/04 22:48 Record 80 Pct of Japanese Mothers Have Job: Survey
- 07/04 22:13 (Update) 13 Residents Evacuate Quake-Hit Remote Island in Japan
- 07/04 22:11 Japan, S. Korea National Security Advisers Confirm Cooperation
- 07/04 21:08 (Update) Japanese Parties' Election Campaigning Swings into Gear
- 07/04 21:04 Japan Individual Shareholders Hit Record High in FY 2024
- 07/04 20:07 (Update) Japan's GPIF Logs 1.7-T.-Yen Profit in FY 2024
- 07/04 19:49 (Update) Japan Eyes "Golden Share" as Condition for Aid to Rapidus
- 07/04 19:01 Japan's Rice Price Outlook Index Plummets in June
- 07/04 18:09 Ex-Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Official Guilty of Insider Trading
- 07/04 18:00 Overseas Voting for Japan Upper House Election Begins
- 07/04 17:47 Japanese Parties' Election Campaigning Swings into Gear
- 07/04 17:34 Japan Eyes "Golden Share" as Condition for Aid to Rapidus
- 07/04 17:26 INTERVIEW: Iran Needs Assurance of No Attack During Nuke Talks
- 07/04 16:58 Max Vote-Value Gap Rises to 3.126 Times for Upper House Poll
- 07/04 16:17 2025 POLLS: Women Making Up Less Than 30 Pct of All Candidates
- 07/04 16:04 Japan's GPIF Logs 1.7-T.-Yen Profit in FY 2024
- 07/04 15:43 Japan Household Spending Rises 4.7 Pct in May
- 07/04 13:51 Victims of 2020 Kumamoto Heavy Rains Mourned 5 Years On
- 07/04 13:43 Japan's Akira Otani Wins British Crime Novel Award
- 07/04 13:20 13 Residents Evacuate Strong Quake-Hit Akusekijima Island
- 07/04 13:07 80 Pct of Struggling Families in Tougher Situation: Survey
- 07/04 11:52 (Update) Japan Upper House Poll Giving Constraints on Trade Talks: Bessent
- 07/04 09:24 Japan Upper House Poll Giving Constraints on Trade Talks: Bessent
- 07/03 23:01 (Update 3) Strong Quake Strikes Remote Islands in Southwestern Japan
- 07/03 22:06 (Update) Shunto Wage Hikes Hit 34-Year High: Rengo
- 07/03 20:24 Summer Bonuses at Major Japanese Firms Hit New Record
- 07/03 20:06 (Update 3) Japan Upper House Election Campaigning Kicks Off
- 07/03 19:48 (Update) S. Korea Pres. Lee Arranging Early Visit to Japan
- 07/03 19:31 Japan, U.S., S. Korea Top Uniformed Officers to Meet in Seoul
- 07/03 19:10 U.S. Military Apologizes over Okinawa Sexual Assault Case
- 07/03 18:29 Shunto Wage Hikes Hit 34-Year High: Rengo
- 07/03 18:28 (Update 2) Strong Quake Logging Lower 6 Strikes Southwestern Japan
- 07/03 18:15 (Update) Strong Quake Logging Lower 6 Strikes Southwestern Japan
- 07/03 17:54 Ishiba Calls on People to Think about Future at Osaka Expo
- 07/03 16:54 S. Korea Pres. Lee Eager to Visit Japan Soon
- 07/03 16:50 Strong Quake Logging Lower 6 Strikes Southwestern Japan
- 07/03 16:46 (Update) Japan Party Chiefs Make Pleas for Votes in Upper House Poll
