Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto has admitted to an extramarital affair with a club hostess prior to entering public office, confirming the revelation the day before a weekly tabloid magazine published a detailed account of their relationship Thursday.

The popular Hashimoto, who plans to support up to 300 candidates in the next Lower House election, said late Wednesday that the article in Shukan Bunshun magazine detailing his relationship with the woman in 2006 was generally true.

The article in Shukan Bunshun, which also revealed last autumn that Hashimoto's father was a gangster, was described by the mayor as containing truths and distortions. While refusing to comment on specific details, he did not deny the allegation that he asked the woman to engage in "cosplay" fantasy games that, she told the magazine, included dressing as a flight attendant and were slightly sadistic.