Japan’s paternity leave poster boy politician resigns over affair with bikini model

A married politician resigned on Friday for having an affair while publicly announcing he would seek to take paternity leave to promote women’s rights. Kensuke Miyazaki bowed repeatedly and apologized profusely at a news conference broadcast live on Japanese TV. He admitted meeting a model three times just days before his wife, also an MP, gave birth. “I did something very cruel to my wife who just delivered a baby. I am in deep remorse,” he said, speaking with some difficulty as camera flashes lit up his face.

To those who took serious interest in the issue of men taking paternity leave, I deeply, deeply apologize.

Kensuke Miyazaki

Mr Miyazaki, 35, shook up Japan’s conservative political scene when he sought to take a month’s leave to help his then pregnant wife, Megumi Kaneko. He was criticised by many politicians in a country where fathers taking time off to care for children is rare but won backing from prime minister Shinzo Abe. But a weekly magazine revealed he was having an affair with the 34-year-old model in his Kyoto constituency. They met while she helped him and other politicians to dress for ceremonial occasions. His admission triggered outrage online but politicians were at pains to point out that Mr Miyazaki’s fall from grace should not detract from the debate on paternity leave.

It is an individual case. It is not something which will have any influence on issues of policy.

Health, labour and welfare minister Yasuhisa Shiozaki

Kensuke Miyazaki