Japan safety chief under fire for ‘savouring’ eel lunch, then responding to attack on PM Kishida

Apr 27, 2023 | News On Japan

TOKYO - Japan's public safety chief has come under fire for his remark that he enjoyed eel rice so much that he kept eating after his agency informed him of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's narrow escape from a pipe bomb attack two weeks ago.

Koichi Tani, chair of the National Public Safety Commission for Kishida's Cabinet, told a governing party gathering on Tuesday that he had the local delicacy in front of him for lunch when the phone rang.

"I was told that we can eat delicious unagi (eel) rice bowl there, and I was really looking forward to it," Tani told party lawmakers. "Just as I was going to dig into it, I got a call from the National Police Agency saying something was thrown at the prime minister in Wakayama," Tani said. ...continue reading

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