Japanese general fired amid scandal

TOKYO, Nov. 14 (UPI) -- Japanese Air Self-Defense Force Maj. Gen. Kesayoshi Miyashita has been fired amid allegations of sexual harassment, an official said Friday.

Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said the 55-year-old Air force academy head was accused by one of his female deputies of sexually harassing her in late August, Kyodo News said.

ASDF Chief of Staff Gen. Kenichiro Hokazono confirmed that the head of the military branch's 1st Technical School was fired on Sept. 18.

"It is very regrettable that a major general who took the important post of academy principal caused this kind of matter,'' Hokazono said.

Ministry officials alleged that Miyashita confessed to the sexual harassment allegations.

The military officer now works at the ministry's Air Staff Office, the unidentified officials said.

The identity of the woman who made the allegations has not been released due to an ongoing investigation into the matter, Kyodo reported.