Japan’s PM Kishida undergoes sinus surgery

By MARI YAMAGUCHI
Associated Press

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida had underwent sinus surgery at a Tokyo hospital. He told reporters he had been diagnosed having chronic sinusitis with polyps. He has since been treated with medicine but decided to undergo surgery “in order to be in perfect health.” Local media had made references to his stuffy nose while he was speaking at meetings, parliamentary sessions and news conferences. Kishida’s surgery apparently went smoothly and he returned to his official residence Saturday evening. Footage captured Kishida in his suit and wearing a white surgical mask bowing and thanking medial staff. He has suffered plunging public support over his handling of a controversy involving his governing party’s ties with a religious group and resignations of ministers and aides.