Photo/Illutration Yasutoshi Nishimura, the state minister in charge of economic revitalization and the central government’s handling of the novel coronavirus pandemic, speaks in the Diet on Feb. 12. (Kotaro Ebara)

Yasutoshi Nishimura, the government’s point man in dealing with the novel coronavirus pandemic, apologized after a magazine revealed that several of his overworked aides have been replaced.

One of his aides worked for more than 150 consecutive days during the COVID-19 crisis.

Nishimura confirmed the heavy workload of his aides at the Lower House Budget Committee meeting on Feb. 12 in response to questions by Hiroyuki Moriyama of the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan.

“I am fully aware that (they were) under a tremendous burden,” Nishimura said.

Shukan Bunshun reported about Nishimura’s aides in its Feb. 10 issue.

Nishimura, who is also the state minister in charge of economic revitalization, said that three of his four official aides have retired from the position since he took over the Cabinet post in September 2019.

Two employees at the minister’s office, who were assigned to Nishimura in April and September last year to coordinate assignments among departments, also left their posts in January this year, Nishimura said.

Although Nishimura declined to comment on individual personnel affairs, he said, “I have made personnel reshuffles in light of each of their burden while they continued to do a lot of work.”

He acknowledged that one of his aides “could not have a day off” from March 6, when Nishimura was appointed to head the government’s COVID-19 response team, until Aug. 8 last year. He said it was because he had to attend a news conference every day, including holidays.

“I am very sorry,” Nishimura said.

According to the Cabinet Office, four aides have been assigned to Nishimura on a steady basis from related ministries and agencies to carry out public duties.

Two of them were replaced in August, while one was replaced in January this year.

(This article was written by Ayako Nakada and Junya Sakamoto.)

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