Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka visited Maebashi on Saturday to apologize to the Gunma prefectural chapter of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party for a controversial speech she made during last month's House of Councilors election campaign.
Tanaka visited the prefectural capital after the LDP's Ethics Committee issued her with a warning Wednesday over the speech in the runup to the July 29 Upper House election. The panel ordered her to apologize to a candidate she was supposed to be endorsing and other relevant individuals for "inappropriate" remarks.
The outspoken minister met Takashi Sasagawa, head of the chapter and deputy secretary general of the party, and other chapter executives with a bow and said, "I caused you great trouble. I am really sorry."
She also met with former LDP candidate Mayumi Yoshikawa, who failed to win a seat in the election, to offer a direct apology. At a later a press conference, she also expressed regret for her words to voters in Gunma Prefecture.