Key Facts
• June 21, 217th Regular Diet: Ongoing questioning on gasoline tax provisional rate repeal bill.
• Gasoline tax provisional rate: 25.1 yen per liter, proposed to be abolished from July 1.
• Opposition parties submitted the bill on June 11; House of Representatives approved it on June 20.
• House of Councillors held Finance and Monetary Affairs Committee questioning on June 21.
• Ruling party ordered “stay nearby” (kinzoku) for all ruling party councillors to ensure attendance.
• “Stay nearby” requires being within 30 minutes of the plenary session, usually inside Diet or offices.
• Junko Mihara, Cabinet Minister, left Diet area around 1 p.m. to visit Shonan Beauty Clinic in Nishi-Shinjuku.
• She spent over 3 hours inside the clinic, leaving by a van with Yokohama plates.
• During this time, the Finance Committee failed to reach agreement; the bill was ultimately rejected and lapsed.
• Mihara wore her Diet badge and held a smartphone, signaling availability despite absence.
• Political analysts criticized her for disregarding the “stay nearby” order and Diet duties.
• Mihara has a 20-year relationship with the clinic’s parent company CEO Yoshiyuki Aikawa.
• She has undergone multiple cosmetic treatments including Botox, collagen injections, Thermage, and HIFU.
• Typical treatment costs: Thermage (approx. 150,000–250,000 yen), HIFU (from 20,000 yen), Baby Collagen (approx. 100,000 yen per vial).
• Cosmetic procedures are non-invasive, require regular sessions every few months.
• Analysts warn Mihara would have faced disciplinary action if an actual vote occurred during her absence.
• Mihara resigned as Minister of Child Policy in October last year, emphasizing work-life balance.
• Despite this, her visit to a cosmetic clinic during Diet sessions drew public criticism.
Summary
Junko Mihara, a Cabinet Minister and member of the House of Councillors, was caught leaving the Diet premises on June 21, 2025, during critical deliberations on a gasoline tax repeal bill. Despite a ruling party order requiring all members to stay within 30 minutes of the plenary session, Mihara traveled to a cosmetic surgery clinic operated by Shonan Beauty Clinic in Nishi-Shinjuku, spending over three hours receiving anti-aging treatments. This absence occurred amid intense parliamentary negotiations that ultimately led to the bill’s failure. Mihara’s long-standing personal and professional ties to the clinic’s CEO and her history of publicized cosmetic procedures highlight her role as a promotional figure for the clinic. Political analysts criticized her disregard for parliamentary responsibilities, noting that had a vote taken place, she would have faced sanctions. Although Mihara advocates for work-life balance, her decision to prioritize cosmetic treatments during Diet sessions has sparked controversy and questions about her commitment to her official duties.
