Press appalled at resignation of Japanese PM’s top aide

Chief cabinet secretary Hidenao Nakagawa stepped down Thursday after he was put on spotlight by a series of tabloid magazine reports over an affair with a bar hostess and links to a right-wing extremist.

The furore revived debate over the premier’s own credibility — Mori had only appointed Nakagawa four months ago after a June 25 general election."

We cannot help but raise serious questions about the pitiful state surrounding the two key officials at the residence — the prime minister and the chief cabinet secretary," the Yomiuri Shimbun said."

It is not easy to recover public confidence in the government," the mass-circulation daily said. "Mori now needs to administer politics based on thorough self-reflection."

The final blow came on Thursday night after a prime-time news programme broadcast a tape of Nakagawa apparently warning his mistress about a raid on her apartment by narcotics police.

Mori named as Nakagawa’s replacement Yasuo Fukuda, 64, a former vice foreign minister and son of late prime minister Takeo Fukuda.

Although a Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) stalwart, he has never held cabinet rank." It was such a rubbishy punishment drama," lamented the conservative Sankei Shimbun. "People have gone beyond holding mere disbelief at politics, but are left speechless out of dismay." Another newspaper questioned the premier’s ability to pursue one of his key policies to reform the nation’s education system."

It is doubtful whether this cabinet has any rights at all to talk about education," said the Tokyo Shimbun.