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Fukuoka officials face scrutiny over costly overseas research trips

The prefectural government said it spent 337 million yen on the trips, including hotel upgrades, and pledged to review long-standing customs.

Reported · Written up by our desk · Asia

Officials in Japan’s southwestern prefecture of Fukuoka are facing growing scrutiny over overseas “research trips” that included stays in Paris and London, amid public frustration with political spending as household costs rise. The controversy is raising pressure on Governor Seitaro Hattori and the local Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) chapter, which dominates the regional government.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Hattori said he expressed “regret” after indicating that established practice was not followed in planning 23 overseas trips since 2021. The prefectural government confirmed it spent 337 million yen, about US$2.08 million, on the excursions, including hotel upgrades.

According to coverage by SCMP Economy, the government has promised to “review long-standing customs.” Analysts cited by the outlet said expensive overseas trips at taxpayers’ expense have occurred for decades, but that the Fukuoka case may be landing harder because many people are struggling with higher prices while wages have largely remained static.

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