Japan Press Weekly

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2021 January 13 - 19 [POLITICS]

Former Agriculture Minister indicted for bribery

The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office on January 15 indicted former Agriculture Minister and former Liberal Democratic Party Dietmember Yoshikawa Takamori for bribery without being taken into custody. Allegedly, Yoshikawa during his term as minister received five million yen in cash in his office from an influential figure in the poultry industry.

The special investigation unit at the Tokyo district prosecutors office established the money as bribery in return for favors to the industry.

Japanese Communist Party Policy Commission Chair Tamura Tomoko at a press conference on the same day demanded the summoning of Yoshikawa as a sworn witness before the Diet.

Tamura pointed out that Yoshikawa received cash from a major egg producer and he pressed the Agriculture Ministry to accommodate the industry, and that as a result, the Japanese government submitted an objection to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) regarding "Animal Welfare" guidelines. She criticized Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide for not responding to questions made by the press in regards to the issue on the grounds that it is under investigation. She again demanded, "The whole truth about the money-for-favor scandal should be uncovered and disclosed."

Past related articles:
> Amid allegations of accepting bribes, ex-Agriculture Minister resigns his Diet seat [December 22, 2020]
> Ex-Agriculture Minister under suspicion of receiving cash-for-favor from poultry farmer [December 9, 2020]