A member of the Japanese House of Representatives, who hid the fact that he was married and deceived women about his identity, was recently found out and received an indefinite suspension of party membership.
According to Japanese media such as NHK on the 24th, the National Democratic Party held a general meeting the previous day and issued an indefinite suspension of party membership to Hiraiwa Masaki (平岩征樹·45), who committed adultery. This came just one day after Hiraiwa acknowledged the affair.
According to the Japanese online media Gendai Business, Hiraiwa introduced himself as Masaki Hashimoto, an executive at the Kansai International Airport operating company, to a woman he met through an application in 2021. He also lied about being single.
On the 22nd, Hiraiwa stated on his official website, "About four years ago, there was someone I dated while hiding the fact that I was married, and I did not tell her my real name." Following the party's decision to suspend his membership, Hiraiwa told NHK, "I genuinely regret and take the party's decision seriously," and added, "I will consider what kind of responsibility is appropriate going forward."
Hiraiwa entered politics in 2011 when he was elected as a city council member in Kaizuka City, Osaka Prefecture. He became known for street activities in Osaka alongside National Democratic Party leader Tamaki Yuichiro from 2019, and he was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in last year's election.
Tamaki was also found to have had an affair with actress Koizumi Miyuki, who was serving as a tourism ambassador in Takamatsu City of Kagawa Prefecture, in November of last year, and he received a three-month suspension from his duties.