Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga met with the president of the Science Council of Japan on Friday amid mounting criticism over the premier's decision to block six scholars from joining the government advisory body.

Takaaki Kajita said they discussed "the future of the council" but Suga did not provide an explanation for why he refused to appoint the nominees last month.

Of the 105 scholars recommended as new members by the council, Suga did not name six that have been critical of security and anti-conspiracy legislation enacted under his predecessor Shinzo Abe.