Facing flak from both the opposition — and her own party — Sanae Takaichi, policy chief for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, retracted earlier remarks that no one was killed in the 2011 Fukushima meltdowns and that the government should restart reactors nationwide.
Takaichi told reporters Wednesday that she would retract all of the remarks she made Monday during a speech in Kobe, adding that it was up to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to decide her fate.
Abe, who was later briefed on the matter during his diplomatic trip in Europe, said he would keep Takaichi in the position, but warned her against making remarks "that could cause misunderstandings," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said.