Japan PM's son to step down as executive secretary amid public criticism

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's son will step down as executive secretary to his father on June 1, the government said on Monday, amid continued criticism for holding a party in the prime minister's official residence, reported Xinhua.

Kishida told reporters that his eldest son Shotaro Kishida would step down as his secretary on Thursday, saying that the change was due to "inappropriate" behavior at the official residence.

Shotaro Kishida has been under fire after media reports of holding a year-end party for relatives at the prime minister's official residence last December that featured controversial behaviour.

The residence is frequently used for official functions, including meetings with foreign dignitaries.

Images of Shotaro Kishida and his relatives posing on the red-carpeted stairs in the residence surfaced in the media last week. - BERNAMA-XINHUA