Tokyo Gov. Yoichi Masuzoe on Friday said he is doing his utmost to trim the cost of his overseas trips, following the revelation that each one costs taxpayers ¥26.6 million on average.

On Thursday, the Japanese Communist Party revealed that Masuzoe had spent ¥213 million during his eight trips to foreign capitals since becoming governor in 2014. That's more than half of what former Gov. Shintaro Ishihara used on his 28 trips abroad.

On trips to Europe made from late October to early November in 2014 and 2015, Masuzoe traveled with an entourage of 19 people.