Japan Press Weekly

Tweet

2013 January 23 - 29 [POLITICS]

Abe’s local branch uses political funds to go to hostess bars

A local political branch of Prime Minister Abe Shinzo has been spending political funds, in the name of political activities, on frequent visits to clubs and bars where female companions entertain male customers.

This branch has received a total of 35.5 million yen in government subsidies via the Liberal Democratic Party for the period between 2009 and 2011.

In response to an Akahata inquiry, a branch staff said, “We properly handle our funds in accordance with the Political Funds Control Law.” However, their spending on nighttime entertainment from a purse stuffed with tax money will call into question Prime Minster Abe’s responsibility.

The branch in question is an LDP office in the 4th electoral district of Yamaguchi Prefecture, which is headed by Prime Minister Abe.

Akahata on January 29 reported that local branch members have visited hostess clubs and bars at least 59 times over the past three years spending 1,262,150 yen in total. They designated these expenditures as social or public relation expenses in their political funds reports.

Exposed by the press, the branch last October corrected their fund reports by deleting 49 wining-and-dining sessions at such places, which amounted to 1,085,150 yen, from items in their expenses. Ten sessions (177,000 yen), however, are still on the itemized list.

They sometimes crossed the Honshu-Kyushu channel to visit hostess clubs, including one in the largest adult entertainment districts in the Kyushu region. In their hometown in Yamaguchi, they regularly went to the same bar. This bar promotes the beauty and physical appearance of female workers and their personalities on its website. It is a place totally inappropriate to engage in political activities.