Limbless author embroiled in infidelity scandal

Hirotada Otodake / Courtesy of Hirotada Otodake's Twitter

By Kim Da-hee

Hirotada Otodake, a well-known Japanese best seller author born without arms and legs, has been embroiled in extramarital affairs, the local news outlet reported on Wednesday.

According Shukan Shincho, a weekly magazine, Otodake has had affairs with five women since his marriage in 2001.

The author, initially denied the allegation, but later admitted to having extramarital affairs with multiple women.

“I sincerely apology for causing concern to many people,” he wrote on his website on Thursday.

“I confessed my sexual sins to my wife. Although it was a huge mistake that cannot be easily forgiven, my wife told me she forgives me.”

Otodake was born in 1976 without arms and legs, a genetic disorder called tertra-amelia syndrome.

He became famous for his 1998 memoir titled “No One’s Perfect,” in which he wrote about his strong passion for life despite her serious physical disadvantage. The book was a sensation in Japan and was later translated into English.

Meanwhile, the scandal is expected to hurt his political standing because he is working to be nominated for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.