Abe Rapped for Comment on Disabled Govt Worker over Scandal

From Jiji Press

December 4th 2019

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been criticized for his remark that appeared to link a disabled worker with a delay in scrapping guest lists for a cherry blossom party at the center of cronyism allegations.

Explaining why the work was delayed until May 9, four weeks after this year’s cherry blossom-viewing party in April, Abe recently cited scheduling arrangements for a nonregular worker who operates a document shredder at the Cabinet Office.

Abe, already under fire for inviting many of his supporters to state-funded annual cherry blossom-viewing parties, said the nonregular employee is a disabled worker on shortened work hours.

The prime minister gave the explanation Monday at a plenary meeting of the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of the Diet, the country’s parliament.

Abe has drawn fresh fire, because his remark was taken to show a lack of consideration for socially vulnerable people.