The Japanese Finance ministry quoted Fukuda as saying he did not recall having the reported exchanges with the female reporter or having a meal with the reporter. He did not consider remarks he made to the reporter as constituting sexual harassment, the ministry said in the statement.
Fukuda was quoted as saying: “I sincerely feel sorry for causing trouble to finance minister (Taro) Aso and ministry officials by inviting public distrust".
Fukuda added, indicating no sign of resignation: “Reflecting, I’ll fulfill my duty with a sense of urgency".
The weekly Shincho magazine said in an issue published last Thursday that Administrative Vice Finance Minister Junichi Fukuda went with a female reporter recently to a bar near his house and asked to touch her.
