Japanese lawmaker criticized over piggyback

Jun Matsumoto, the minister in charge of disaster management, told a press conference Tuesday that Vice Reconstruction Minister Shunsuke Mutai's behavior was "inappropriate" and showed a lack of consideration for the disaster-affected community.

In early September, Mutai led a government team's visit to the northern Japanese town of Iwaizumi to assess the damage from the storm, which killed more than 20 people across the region. But he reportedly forgot to bring waterproof rubber boots with him.

Footage later broadcast on television showed the vice minister jumping on the back of another government official who was wading through a puddle. The incident sparked outrage on social media, with many users describing the scene as "embarrassing," and accusing Mutai of making light of the disaster.

'Lacking sensitivity'

Politicians from both Japan's ruling party and the opposition have also condemned Mutai's actions. Reconstruction Minister Masahiro Imamura visited the region over the weekend and apologized to the community.

"When I heard the story, I said what on earth was he doing," Imamura told residents, explaining that Mutai had to rush over to the disaster area and forgot his boots.

"When visiting a disaster area, it's understood that one brings along rubber boots," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Monday.

"I must say he lacked sensitivity to the residents hit by the disaster and the region, and we should make sure not to repeat the same problem."

Later Monday, Mutai told reporters that what he did was "inappropriate."

"I deeply regret it," he said.

nm/kms (AP, dpa)