Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his ruling party came under fire from opposition parties Tuesday for holding a social gathering last week even as warnings were being issued in western Japan for torrential rains that subsequently brought about one of the worst natural disasters in the country in decades.

The private party, held by Liberal Democratic Party members Thursday, was also attended by Justice Minister Yoko Kamikawa, who two days earlier ordered the executions of Aum Shinrikyo cult founder Shoko Asahara and six of his followers for a series of crimes including the 1995 Tokyo subway nerve gas attack.

The executions of the seven death row inmates were carried out the day after the gathering.