I knew it! Exclusive photo of Prime Minister Kishida in his nightgown and barefoot at the year-end party at his official residence, where his son is having a big party!

On December 30 last year, 18 relatives gathered at the “Grand New Year’s Party” held at the prime minister’s official residence (Chiyoda Ward). At the center of the gathering was Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (65), smiling in his nightgown of sweatshirt, down vest, and bare feet.

When the Shukan Bunshun (weekly magazine) reported that the prime minister’s relatives, including his eldest son and secretary to the prime minister, Shotaro (32), had a big party, lying down on the steps of the official residence, the public was outraged.

The prime minister, however, merely stated that he had given Shoutarou a “stern warning. Even though the opposition parties, as well as the media at home and abroad, slammed him for being “soft on his own people,” the prime minister did not budge. In fact, at a May 26 meeting of the Budget Committee of the House of Councillors, he even appeared to defend his son, saying, “I also appeared at a dinner in his private living space and greeted him.

The true nature of this “discomfort” is revealed in the group photo obtained by this magazine.

The prime minister himself, along with his wife Yuko (58), Shotaro, and others, were in the “commemorative photo” with happy expressions on their faces.

On the day of the party, the four members of the Kishida family, including Takeo, 62, the prime minister’s brother and a businessman, and their spouses and children, gathered for a year-end party. It was truly a ‘family’ party, with no outsiders allowed in,” said one of the prime minister’s acquaintances.

The June 2 issue of FRIDAY (FRIDAY June 16-23) reports in detail on how and why Prime Minister Kishida and Shoutarou’s relatives were so happy to be at the “big year-end party.