scandal

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DPJ must thoroughly investigate Nishimura's case: JCP Ichida

Democratic Party of Japan member House of Representatives Nishimura Shingo was arrested by the Osaka Prosecutor's Office on November 28 for allegedly letting his law office's former employee act as his proxy in violation of the Attorneys Law.

Commenting on Nishimura's arrest at the press conference on the same day, Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Ichida Tadayoshi stated, "Nishimura is strongly suspected of having been involved in practices unworthy of a Dietmember. He should resign as a House of Representatives member immediately."

Pointing out that it is very unusual that an incumbent lawmaker is arrested, Ichida said, "the Democratic Party must fully investigate the matter and make the information public."

Referring to the fact that a DPJ official stated, "It's unbelievable," echoing Nishimura's denial of his involvement, Ichida said, "Nishimura's case is serious in that the DPJ cannot disclaim its responsibility to cleanse itself by making a thorough investigation into his case."

Nishimura has reportedly lent his name and seal to the former employee, who had been Nishimura's secretary in the Diet and a right-wing organization member. They have allegedly shared money that they received as reward for helping in out-of-court settlements.

As a lawmaker, he was often criticized for his ultra-rightist statements and behavior, such as his landing on the Senkaku Islands disputed between Japan and China, and his connection with the group "Seibatsu-tai" (conquerors) that assaulted a teachers' union office in Hiroshima. He has been the secretary general of the parliamentarians' association on North Korea's abductions of Japanese citizens.

He has connections with the leader of "Kenkoku Giyu-gun" (state construction voluntary force) which placed a bomb at a foreign ministry official's house. He had been a senior advisor of a ultra-rightist association called "Friends of the Sword."

In 1997 as a lawmaker, together with Ishihara Shintaro, now a Tokyo governor, he landed on Uotsuri Island in the Senkaku Islands, the controversial Japanese islands whose territorial right has been claimed by China and Taiwan.

In 1999 when he was the Defense Agency deputy director general, in a weekly journal he stated, "I think it's better for Japan to be armed with nuclear weapons," and then resigned the post in October of that year.
- Akahata, November 29, 2005