Japan Press Weekly

Tweet

2017 May 17 - 23 [POLITICS]

Education ministry stores document indicating Abe’s involvement in Kake Gakuen scandal

Akahata on May 18 obtained an Education Ministry internal document indicating Prime Minister Abe’s alleged exercise of his influence for helping a school headed by Abe’s close friend establish a veterinary school.

The school in question, Okayama-based Kake Gakuen (Kake Educational Institute), plans to open a university veterinary medicine department in Ehime’s Imabari City which is designated as a special strategic deregulation zone under the Abe government.

The document is a record of talks between senior officials of the Cabinet Office and Education Ministry on September 26, 2016. It includes the officials’ names.

In the document, a Cabinet Office official requested the Education Ministry to draw up a timetable for allowing Kake Gakuen to open a new school in April 2018 and added, “This is a request from the highest-ranking official in the Prime Minister’s Office.” Furthermore, the Cabinet Office official said that the Education Ministry has no choice but to accept this request.

The Education Ministry has a policy to limit the establishment of new veterinary schools. In addition, the Japanese Society of Veterinary Science has opposed the use of special strategic zones to open new schools.

However, PM Abe’s panel on special strategic deregulation zones in January this year reversed the Education Ministry’s policy and allowed Kake Gakuen to set up a veterinary medicine school in Imabari City.

PM Abe has frequently played golf and dined with Kake Gakuen President Kake Kotaro. Abe describes Kake as his “confidant”.