Japan Press Weekly

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2017 May 31 - June 6 [POLITICS]

JCP Kokuta : Diet should summon PM’s aide and ex-Vice Education Minister over ‘Kake Gakuen’ scandal

Japanese Communist Party Diet Policy Commission Chair Kokuta Keiji on May 31 at a press conference in the Diet building said that the Diet should summon a former top Education Ministry bureaucrat and a close aide to the PM to testify about Abe’s involvement in the “Kake Gakuen” scandal.

Former Administrative Vice Minister of Education Maekawa Kihei recently published materials that support the allegations that Prime Minister Abe gave favorable treatment to his friend’s school corporation, Kake Gakuen, in regard to its plan to open a new veterinary school.

Maekawa on May 30 revealed that Special Advisor to the PM Izumi Hiroto in conversations at the PM’s Office urged the Education Ministry to prioritize with the Kake Gakuen’s veterinary school issue and said that as the prime minister can’t say anything himself, he was telling Maekawa on behalf of PM Abe.

Asked about Maekawa’s revelation, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Hagiuda Koichi at a regular press briefing on May 31 explained, “Since there is no record of this conversation, it is impossible for the administration to examine whether the two actually had conversations pertaining to this issue or not. Izumi, however, said that he doesn’t remember having such talks with Maekawa and that he received no order from PM Abe regarding the Kake Gakuen issue.”

Kokuta said, “If PM Abe and his administration deny Maekawa’s statement, they should summon Maekawa and Izumi as sworn witnesses before the Diet.”

Past related article:
> Suspicion of nepotism surrounding private university operated by Abe’s friend [May 21, 2017]