Japanese prime minister’s aide leaving over LGBTQ remarks

By YURI KAGEYAMA
Associated Press

TOKYO (AP) — A senior aide to Japan’s prime minister is being dismissed after making discriminatory remarks about LGBTQ people. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters Saturday that Masayoshi Arai, a secretary at his office, was being dismissed after Arai recently told Japanese media he did not like seeing LGBTQ people. Arai retracted his comments and apologized on Friday. Kishida said the remarks run counter to the administration’s position on promoting diversity. Kishida said action against Arai is inevitable but did not provide further details, meaning Arai may leave voluntarily. Prejudice against LGBTQ people, racial groups, women and other nationalities persist in conformist Japan. Various Japanese officials have resigned over comments that have landed them in trouble.