Ex-defense chief Kyuma also entertained by arms dealer

   Former Defense Minister Kyuma Fumio in the beginning of December 2006, while he was the chief of the then Defense Agency, was entertained by a former executive of Yamada Corp., an arms dealer, who also entertained former Administrative Vice Defense Minister Moriya Takemasa at a golf resort, the October 28 issue of the Akahata Sunday edition revealed.

   Kyuma is suspected of infringing the state ministers’ code of conduct that prohibits ministers from being entertained by companies in related businesses.

   Kyuma was dined by the former Yamada Corp. executive at an exclusive restaurant famous for turtle dishes in Tokyo’s Akasaka district. The former executive held the dinner to congratulate Kyuma for taking office as the Defense Agency director general as well as to introduce to Kyuma a new trading firm specializing in military equipment that he had founded. The 100,000 yen dinner party was paid for by the new trading firm.

   At that time, the former executive was competing with Yamada Corp. for the contract of U.S. made transport aircraft engines that the Defense Agency was planning to procure.

   Kyuma later disclosed that Yamada Corp.’s founder was also present at the dinner and talked with him.

   Kyuma’s office admitted that he attended the dinner.
- Akahata, October 26, 2007