TOKYO — Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi was trapped for about 30 minutes in an elevator at the prime minister’s office after it malfunctioned on Sept. 6, he announced at a news conference same day.
The incident caused the start of a 10 a.m. Cabinet meeting to be delayed by about 20 minutes.
When Hayashi was asked why the start of the news conference after the Cabinet meeting was delayed, he stated, “While going from the office to the Cabinet meeting room, the elevator malfunctioned and I was unable to get there. I was trapped inside for about 30 minutes.” He did not take part in the Cabinet meeting, and his normal role as head of proceedings was reportedly taken over by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
According to sources at the prime minister’s office, three people were trapped inside the elevator, the other two being a secretary and a security guard. The air conditioning wasn’t working and it was reportedly difficult to get a mobile phone signal.
The incident came on the heels of Hayashi’s recent announcement of his candidacy in this month’s Liberal Democratic Party presidential election. The top government spokesman said he didn’t feel there were any particular problems with his physical condition after the mishap.
(Japanese original by Satoru Suzuki and Honoka Uchida, Political News Department)
Top gov’t spokesman trapped in faulty elevator for 30 minutes at Japan PM’s office
