Nobumoto Onoda, Japan's Minister for Economic Security, was about five minutes late to a cabinet meeting held at the Prime Minister's office on the morning of the 6th. In a press conference that followed, he attributed his tardiness to an unforeseen traffic accident that caused a significant jam. Onoda expressed his regret, stating that he usually tries to arrive 15 to 20 minutes early and promised to improve his crisis management. His late arrival raised eyebrows, especially given the significance of cabinet meetings for decision-making in the government.

In parallel, the chairman of the House of Representatives' Committee on Education, Hiroaki Saito, was also delayed due to the same traffic accident, causing the committee's scheduled discussion on a bill for the free provision of high school tuition fees to be cancelled. This series of delays sparked criticism from opposition leaders, with Junya Ogawa from the Center-Right Reform Group highlighting a sense of entitlement and laxity among the ruling parties, suggesting a broader issue of complacency in government operations.

Responses from the Prime Minister's aides indicated that while traffic delays are understandable, the outcomes of such incidents are all that matters in the public's perception. They acknowledged that even when circumstances are out of one's control, the overall impression remains that there is a lack of accountability and urgency within the ruling party. This incident underscores the ongoing scrutiny the government faces regarding its management and responsiveness, particularly in the context of significant legislative work.