TOKYO, July 4 (Xinhuanet) -- Japanese Prime Minister and leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party Junichiro Koizumi earned 38.17 million yen (343,000 US dollars) in 2004, the richest among leaders of Japan's political parties, according to a parliament annual report issued on Monday.

    The premier's income was 1.65 million yen (14,000 dollars) lower than the year before. Koizumi's office said the decline was attributable to his reduced number of TV appearances that come with miscellaneous income compared with the previous year, when he was in high demand because of the LDP presidential election, Kyodo News reported.

    Mizuho Fukushima, leader of the Social Democratic Party, came in second with 23.83 million yen (214,000 dollars). Katsuya Okada, president of the Democratic Party of Japan, was the third with 22.35 million yen (201,000 dollars).

    The average annual income of Japan's parliament members dropped to a record-low 23.59 million yen (212,000 dollars) last year, declining for the third year running, the annual report said.

    Against the backdrop of the decline few lawmakers appear to be reporting huge gains on land and other assets as well as a cut in bonuses from state coffers due to sluggish economy.

    Yet, the lawmakers with income of more than 100 million yen (900,000 dollars) doubled to six from the previous year. Enditem