Japan’s prime minister will make an appearance at Parliament’s ethics hearing over a funds scandal

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is set to appear before a political ethics committee at Parliament on Thursday in an effort to address the ongoing corruption scandal that has been plaguing his government. The scandal, known as the "Moriya Funds Scandal," centers around the illegal use of political funds by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its former secretary-general, Shinzo Abe.

The Moriya Funds Scandal began in 2018 when it was discovered that the LDP had used millions of yen in political funds to pay for personal expenses and gifts for politicians, including Abe. The scandal has led to widespread public outrage and calls for reform within the Japanese political system.

Kishida, who took office as prime minister in April 2021, has been working to address the scandal and restore public trust in the government. In July 2021, he announced a series of reforms aimed at strengthening Japan's political finance laws and increasing transparency within the government.

However, Kishida's efforts have been met with skepticism from some members of the public and opposition parties, who argue that the government is not doing enough to address the root causes of the scandal.

Thursday's ethics committee hearing will give Kishida an opportunity to address these concerns and demonstrate his leadership in addressing the scandal. The hearing is expected to be closely watched by the Japanese media and public.