TOKYO -- Facing a widening backlash over his office's distribution of gift vouchers to rookie Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) lawmakers, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has explained that he had been concerned about being labeled "stingy" for years.

"Over the course of my long career, people complained a lot about me, saying that I wasn't socializing with others well enough and that I was being stingy. I suppose I was worried about that too much," Ishiba told a House of Councillors Budget Committee session on March 19.

Ishiba faced criticism from both within the ruling and opposition parties after it emerged his office had handed out gift vouchers worth 100,000 yen ($667) each to 15 rookie LDP lower house members who attended a dinner meeting at the prime minister's office on March 3.

Ishiba told the budget panel session, "I must deeply reflect on my misjudgment," adding, "I've got to apologize over and over again."

(Japanese original by Junya Higuchi, Political News Department)