FUKUOKA -- The Fukuoka Prefectural Government spent approximately 337 million yen (about $2.08 million) on 23 overseas group trips led by the governor or vice governor since Gov. Seitaro Hattori took office in fiscal 2021, the prefectural government disclosed on July 14.

Of this total, about 146 million yen (roughly $900,370) went to project costs including event exhibitions and business matching meetings, while the remaining 191 million yen (about $1.18 million) covered travel expenses, interpreter costs and other items.

The prefectural government released information on overseas trips by its executive branch amid growing criticism that overseas inspection tours by the prefectural assembly are expensive and lack transparency.

According to the prefectural government, the governor and vice governors had customarily stayed in higher-grade hotel rooms than staff members in case local dignitaries visited. During an overseas trip to Paris in May 2024, with the Olympics approaching, the governor's lodging cost hit 134,000 yen ($826 at current rates) per night.

At a news conference on July 14, Hattori apologized, saying, "There was never a case in which dignitaries visited. I regret that we did not review the practice." The prefecture has now revised its rules to stipulate that if lodging costs exceed national standard amounts, the governor and vice governors will also stay in rooms of the same grade as staff members.

(Japanese original by Keisuke Muneoka, Kyushu News Department)