Takashi Takai is seen in this file photo. (Mainichi/Nana Hayashida)

TOKYO -- An opposition lawmaker reportedly entered an adult entertainment club in Shinjuku Ward's Kabukicho entertainment district on April 9, despite the capital being under a government-called state of emergency declaration to reduce novel coronavirus infections.

The lawmaker, Takashi Takai, 50, is a Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) politician elected in the House of Representatives under the Chugoku proportional representation block covering the western Japan prefectures of Hiroshima, Okayama, Shimane, Tottori and Yamaguchi.

Takai has since submitted his resignation from the party. A decision on whether the party would accept it was expected within one or two days.

Details of Takai's actions were disclosed by an individual connected to the CDP on April 14. As part of the state of emergency in effect in Tokyo and other prefectures across the country, citizens are encouraged to refrain from going outdoors. Takai is likely to face criticism for flouting the advice in his position as a National Diet lawmaker.

The CDP-connected individual reportedly confirmed the facts with Takai. A party head expressed their frustration, saying, "This puts all opposition parties at a disadvantage just when we're scrutinizing the government's coronavirus response."

(Japanese original by Yoshitaka Koyama, Political News Department)