Japan Press Weekly

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2017 November 15 - 21 [POLITICS]

JCP Koike calls for thorough investigation of ‘Kake’ scandal in special Diet session

Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Koike Akira on November 14 at a press conference in the Diet building demanded that the Education Minister retract his permission to open a new veterinary medicine department at a university run by the Kake Gakuen school cooperation.

Koike said that during the October general election campaign, PM Abe provided no explanation about his alleged involvement in the “Kake” scandal. “Nevertheless, the Education Minister gave a rubber stamp to the Kake Gakuen plan to set up a veterinary faculty. The government will face fierce public criticism,” Koike added.

Koike pointed out that the Kake Gakuen plan fails to meet the Abe Cabinet-set four requirements for approving the establishment of a veterinary school, which includes the existence of an emerging demand in the field of veterinary medicine which existing schools cannot meet.

Koike also noted that a member of the Education Ministry’s panel examining the Kake application gave testimony in Akahata that the panel never discussed whether the planned new veterinary school satisfies the four requirements or not because this topic was considered “untouchable”.

Furthermore, Koike referred to the fact that the panel in May issued a warning which poses seven problems in the school project. He said, “The Education Minister approved this questionable project. This indicates that the ministry handled the project in an inappropriate manner. The Diet should hold discussions to find out what actually transpired in the approval process.”

Koike stressed that the approval process moved in accordance with the predetermined goal of opening Kake’s new school of veterinary science, which fuel suspicions that PM Abe, who has close ties with the Kake Gakuen president, Kake Kotaro, used his influence in the approval procedure. Koike said, “The Kake Gakuen issue is a serious issue shaking the very foundation of democracy and should not be regarded as a scandal. To determine the truth behind this issue is one of the key agenda items for the special Diet session.”

Past related articles:
> Abe wants to stop opposition parties' pursuit of 'Moritomo' & 'Kake' scandals [October 29, 2017]
> Opinion poll on ‘Kake Gakuen’ scandal: 70% are not convinced by gov’t explanation [June 6, 2017]
> Education ministry stores document indicating Abe’s involvement in Kake Gakuen scandal [May 19, 2017]