Arab News Japan

Japan’s public safety chief, Koichi Tani, has faced criticism after making a controversial remark about enjoying eel rice while his agency informed him of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s narrow escape from a pipe bomb attack two weeks ago.

Tani had been in the Shimanto area in the southwestern prefecture of Kochi during the attack, about 250 kilometers southwest of Wakayama, where the attack occurred.

He told a governing party gathering Tuesday that he had the local delicacy in front of him for lunch when the phone rang.

“I was told that we can eat delicious unagi (eel) rice bowl there, and I was really looking forward to it,” Tani told party lawmakers. “Just as I was going to dig into it, I got a call from the National Police Agency saying something was thrown at the prime minister in Wakayama,” Tani said.

“But I fully savored and finished … my unadon (eel rice bowl),” he said, beaming.

Despite criticism and concerns over Japan’s public safety, Kishida refused to dismiss Tani, stating that he had adequately handled his duties and gathered information at the time of the attack.  Tani “gave necessary instructions and gathered information” at the time of the attack, Kishida said at a plenary meeting of the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of the country’s parliament.

“I want him to continue serving in his post,” Kishida added.

Opposition lawmakers demanded Tani’s dismissal, citing his lack of urgency and suitability as the chief executive responsible for Japan’s security, while Kishida defended Tani’s performance and wished for him to continue serving in his post.

Tani later Wednesday told reporters he wanted to highlight eel as a local delicacy of the area he visited, but that he had “poorly expressed myself in my brief comment and might have caused misunderstanding — and I must take it seriously.”“With the G-7 summit coming up, I’m aware of the importance of protecting Japan’s public safety, and I will carry out my duty with a sense of alertness,” Tani added.

With JIJI Press/AP