Japanese minister under fire over photoshoot

A GLAMOROUS Japanese cabinet minister has apologised for posing inside parliament for high-fashion photographs that opposition conservatives criticised as extravagant and a possible breach of rules.

The six-page spread in November's Vogue Nippon shows government revitalisation minister Renho - who uses only one name - wearing designer dresses in photos taken inside the Diet building this summer.

"If the location of the photo shoot was inappropriate or has caused concerns, that was not my intention," Renho said. "I apologise."

Renho, who is of Taiwanese-Japanese parentage, said her intention was to get more people interested in politics and she obtained permission for the photo session.

"It's outrageous that a minister who has boasted of eliminating wasteful use of their tax money is wearing such (expensive] dresses," opposition MP Ichita Yamamoto said.

Renho has won a reputation for toughness by grilling bureaucrats during televised showdowns over government-funded projects seen as money-wasters.