Lauded for his paternity leave stance, LDP politician has affair while pregnant wife in hospital

LDP lawmaker Kensuke Miyazaki (35) was lauded by many for his admirable decision to take parternity leave and set an example for men in Japan. Miyazaki was the first politician to take paternity leave in Japan.

Not only that, his wife is fellow LDP politician and Lower House member Megumi Kaneko.

Back in December he said: “I wanted to take a step toward changing our society in which male participation in child-rearing is significantly underdeveloped and women alone are saddled with its duties.”

So a devoted husband and crusader for female empowerment, then? Not quite.

Behind the “paternity leave” there was another truth. While his wife was admitted to hospital before she was due to birth, Miyazaki was balls deep inside a gravure model in their home.

Yes, Miyazaki is alleged by tabloid Shukan Bunshun of adultery with a 34-year-old F-cup gravure idol called Mayu Miyazawa.

She seemed to meet Miyazawa at an event in early Japan for politicians who are part of an association for the promotion of traditional Japanese clothes. Of course, relative youth and power are a power aphrodisiac, on top of Miyazaki’s reputation as a “caring” man.

Six days before Kaneko gave birth, he and Miyazawa had their rendezvous, rather foolishly at his own condo in Kyoto where the tabloid reporters were watching.

You might think that, given everything that happened, Miyazaki would be a little more discreet with his behavior, putting aside the ethical issues…

So is this yet another reason to hate Japanese politicians? Though we can’t imagine what Miyazaki and Kaneko’s bedside conversation must be like now as they admire their new-born…