Japan Press Weekly

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2016 May 18 - 24 [POLITICS]

Bookshop owner doubts Masuzoe’s explanation for political fund scandal

Tokyo Governor Masuzoe Yoichi is now under a cloud of suspicion regarding the misappropriation of political funds, including state subsidies, for private use. An antiquarian bookshop owner, who had sold some paintings to Masuzoe, pointed to the need to investigate whether it is appropriate to spend political funds for those paintings.

Akahata recently determined the two paintings which Masuzoe had purchased from an antiquarian bookstore in Tokyo under the guise of “materials costs”. The political fund reports of a branch of the New Renaissance Party, which was represented by Masuzoe, show that he bought a watercolor painting for 330,000 yen in 2012 and a square card with a picture for 15,000 yen in 2011.

The party branch spent a total of about 5.6 million yen purchasing books and materials from 2010 to 2014. Among the purchased items are many art works. The governor told reporters on May 13 that he bought those works to “provide gifts to foreign visitors” and “research the former state of Tokyo”.

The bookstore owner said to Akahata, “It’s quite certain that the governor chose the paintings according to his taste.” The watercolor Masuzoe purchased from the owner is a self-portrait of Japanese painter Kono Michisei. “If foreigners are given that painting, they won’t be able to appreciate it. It is much better to give them a reproduction of works by Ito Jakuchu, whose paintings are very popular among foreigners,” said the shopkeeper.

At a news conference on May 20, the governor refused to make clear the flow of his political money, saying repeatedly, “I’ll have a third party check on it.”

The storekeeper added, “I was surprised to see his press interview. He claimed that he will leave the matter to a ‘third person’, but we don’t know who that will be. And I don’t think a lawyer designated by Masuzoe himself can look into the issue with an unbiased eye. He may have a good taste in paintings, but as a politician, he has strayed from the right path.”

Past related article:
> Tokyo governor must be held accountable for political fund scandal [May 14, 2016]