Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has been inviting Cabinet ministers separately to the Prime Minister's Office for lunch to gather information amid the spread of the coronavirus.
While curtailing group meals means Suga has fewer opportunities to discuss various matters with people, he has been keen "to gather as much information as possible," an aide to the prime minister said.
Last week, Suga had lunch separately on four consecutive days with four ministers: Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi; Justice Minister Yoko Kamikawa; Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Kotaro Nogami; and Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Kazuyoshi Akaba.
The prime minister has dined with 11 Cabinet members since April 25, when the third state of emergency was declared.
Soba noodles -- the prime minister's favorite dish -- were on the menu most of the time, according to the ministers. Ramen in salt-based broth was served on one occasion.
Suga wears a mask during conversations to prevent infections at the lunches, a source said.
When Suga was chief cabinet secretary, his daily routine was to dine with private citizens. A Diet member close to Suga expressed concern about the current situation, saying, "It's said that a prime minister is not well-informed even under normal circumstances, so the pandemic may be making matters worse."
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