Photo/Illutration The three Liberal Democratic Party legislators who announced their intentions to leave their party, Takashi Otsuka, left, Jun Matsumoto, center, and Taido Tanose, bow in apology in front of a party poster with the slogan, "We work for the Japanese people," on Feb. 1 in the LDP party headquarters in Tokyo. (Kotaro Ebara)

The job of politicians probably boils down to listening to what their constituents have to say, so their opinions will be reflected in policies.

But there is a time and place for hearing any serious petition brought to them by their constituents.

And late at night in a posh Ginza nightclub is just not it--definitely not now.

But this was obviously overlooked by three Liberal Democratic Party legislators who have held important government and party posts.

When suspicions arose last week about their nocturnal "petition hearing," Jun Matsumoto, a former chairman of the National Public Safety Commission, insisted he'd "gone to the nightclub alone to take care of it."

But that turned out to be a bald-faced lie. Matsumoto was accompanied by two younger colleagues.

In justifying his lie, Matsumoto gave this pathetically inane excuse: "I wanted to protect them because they are young, promising lawmakers."

And the two thus protected did not come forward to identify themselves until Feb. 1. Both said to the effect that they felt truly terrible while they remained incognito.

But I must say they are just as guilty as Matsumoto.

Members of the ruling coalition demand that the public refrain from going out and eating out, but they themselves do what they please.

Matsumoto and his two colleagues reportedly left the nightclub after 11 p.m.

A legislator belonging to Komeito, the LDP's junior coalition partner, also resigned on Feb. 1 for eating and drinking out in Ginza.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and LDP Secretary-General Toshihiro Nikai were among members who attended a year-end steak dinner party in December.

The blame should go to those politicians who don't practice what they preach, not food service operators.

The government will announce today an extension of the state of emergency. The government also intends to penalize operators who remain open until late hours.

The three LDP legislators held a joint news conference on Feb. 1. When they all bowed deeply in apology, my eyes caught the scarlet party poster on the wall behind them.

"We work for the Japanese people," read the poster. I averted my eyes instinctively, unable to bear the emptiness of the message.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Feb. 2

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Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.

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