A gift scandal involving Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru continues to grow. It has been learned that his predecessor Kishida Fumio also gave out gift vouchers while in office.



Ishiba was found to have distributed gift coupons worth nearly 700 dollars each to lawmakers of his main ruling Liberal Democratic Party. They were handed out before a gathering at his official residence.



The opposition has slammed the practice as a violation of the public's trust. The Constitutional Democratic Party's Hirota Hajime said: "Many people in Japan have an image of Prime Minister Ishiba as a clean and strict person in politics and money. How then did this happen?"



Ishiba replied: "Over the years I have been called many things, such as unsociable and stingy. I believe I was overly sensitive about that reputation. I am very remorseful and I apologize."



Asked whether other prime ministers had distributed gift vouchers to lawmakers, Ishiba said he didn't know and wasn't in a position to answer.



Former Prime Minister Kishida was also found to have given out gift vouchers while in office at a meeting with Parliamentary Secretaries at his official residence.
Kishida's office said that it has always acted in compliance with the law.



The offices of two other predecessors, Suga Yoshihide and Aso Taro, denied any wrongdoing.



Noda Yoshihiko, the leader of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party and a former Prime Minister, says he never gave out gift coupons while in office.



The focus is on whether the gifts break the political funds control law. It bans individuals from making monetary donations to a politician's political activities. But the law does not ban donations for non-political activities.