The ongoing controversy surrounding Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Sato Hiroshi, linked to a 'dark money' scandal associated with the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), has prompted opposition parties to insist on an opportunity for Sato to address their concerns directly. On the 17th, Saito Yoshitaka, chairman of the Upper House's Diet Affairs Committee for the Constitutional Democratic Party, met with Isogai Hidenobu, LDP's Upper House Diet Affairs Committee chairman, to call for Sato's direct explanation to the opposition. The LDP has shown a willingness to accommodate this demand to ensure parliamentary proceedings are carried out effectively.

After the meeting, Saito emphasized that if Sato could effectively fulfill his role as a coordinator during the Diet sessions, it could influence the decision of whether to allow Sato to attend parliamentary meetings. The LDP plans to assess Sato's attendance at the upcoming meeting of the Upper House Committee for the Operation of the Diet, which is scheduled for the 18th. If approval is received from other members, Sato's participation is being considered.

Sato was appointed as Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary last autumn, but his rise amid the scandal has raised eyebrows among opposition parties. The unusual situation arose when he was not given an opportunity for a courtesy greeting in the Upper House's Cabinet Committee, signaling a complicated relationship with parliamentary norms as the ruling party recognizes the need to clarify Sato's involvement in the ongoing issue.