Photo/Illutration Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his wife, Akie, pose with other participants at the April 2019 cherry blossom viewing event at Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden in Tokyo. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

Cherry blossoms have come back to haunt Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

It was only a few months ago that Abe was under attack from opposition parties over annual cherry blossom viewing parties he hosted at the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden in Tokyo.

They wanted to know why public funds were used to wine and dine participants, many of whom were supporters from his local constituency.

The criticism was so fierce the government decided to cancel this year's gathering.

Now an internet news site has posted a photo of Abe’s wife, Akie, posing with a number of celebrities in front of a cherry tree.

Normally, that wouldn't be big news. But given calls for the public to refrain from holding cherry blossom viewing parties in light of the new coronavirus epidemic, Abe once again found himself the target of dogged questioning.

The News Post Seven site operated by the Shogakukan Inc. publishing company reported on the cherry viewing by Akie and friends on March 26.

The next day, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike asked residents to refrain from going out over the weekend so as to lessen the chances of people being exposed to the new coronavirus.

At the March 27 Upper House Budget Committee session, Hideya Sugio of the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, asked Abe about the photo posted to the internet site showing Akie and her group enjoying cherry blossoms.

“The photo was taken during a gathering at a restaurant, which is a private space in Tokyo,” Abe shot back.

He added there was nothing wrong because the gathering was not at a public park. In fact, because of concerns about the coronavirus outbreak, the Tokyo metropolitan government has this weekend closed off some popular park areas that are normally frequented by cherry blossom fans.

But Sugio asked, “Is it an appropriate act for the first lady during a time when a request has been made to refrain from parties and gatherings?”

Abe retorted, “Are you saying people should not go to restaurants? The request had not yet been made at the time (the photo was taken).”

According to the internet news site, the photo was taken in late March.

Criticism on social media was directed at the prime minister’s response.

One post said, “The location is irrelevant. The issue is whether it is appropriate for the wife of a nation’s prime minister to be walking about when a request has been made to refrain from such activities.”

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