Yasutoshi Nishimura, the minister in charge of economic and fiscal policy as well as Japan's coronavirus response, apologized Tuesday for saying the government would pressure banks to rein in restaurants that are flouting guidelines over the sale of alcohol amid a COVID-19 state of emergency. He has faced growing calls for him to quit over the remark.
Nishimura first revealed the policy last Thursday, shortly after Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announced that Tokyo would be placed under a state of emergency starting Monday this week. He retracted the remark the following day amid mounting criticism that it amounted to an abuse of power.
Nonetheless, criticism continued to build — not only from the financial industry, liquor retailers and restaurants, but also from his own ruling Liberal Democratic Party, with law scholars saying Nishimura’s request was likely "illegal." Some opposition parties such as the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan have called for his immediate resignation.