Despite repeated discussions intended to uncover the truth behind the scandals, the situation is falling into a never-ending cycle. The blame lies with both opposition parties and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The former is pointing out allegations against Abe over the scandals without presenting clear-cut evidence, while the prime minister has stoked confusion through his crude responses to the actions of the opposition.
Intensive deliberations have taken place at Budget Committee sessions in both chambers of the Diet. The opposition parties have spared time for deliberations on the issue regarding the establishment of a new veterinary science department by the Kake Educational Institution.
The prime minister reiterated his denial of having met with Kake educational corporation head Kotaro Kake, in February 2015 -- a matter stated in an internal document of the Ehime prefectural government. "[The reference] is nothing but hearsay based on hearsay," he emphasized in a comment about the document.
The school corporation has said that it offered explanations to the prefectural government and others that intimated the prime minister and its head had met, despite there having been no such meeting.
This statement is in line with the reply given by the prime minister, who has said he had known nothing about the new department plan until the school corporation was designated as an entity eligible for the establishment of a veterinary science faculty in January 2017. However, the school corporation must bear a heavy responsibility for aggravating the situation.
To begin with, the head of the school corporation is a personal friend of the prime minister's. There was a possibility that the prime minister could have been suspected of giving the school corporation preferential treatment in the selection of an entity that would be allowed to operate under the national strategic special zone scheme.
The prime minister has said that there was "no shadow of a doubt" in the selection of the Kake school corporation. He should have even more carefully explained the matter.
Meaningful talks needed
Since last year, the Kake-related problem has been combined with a suspicion that has continued with respect to the sale of state-owned land to Moritomo Gakuen. No evidence has been brought forward to show the prime minister was directly involved in either case.
Earlier, the prime minister denied he and his wife, Akie, were involved in the Moritomo issue, stating he would risk his post over the matter. To some extent, his use of assertive language has only provoked the opposition parties. Akie's acceptance of the position of honorary principal at a [planned Moritomo-affiliated] elementary school can only be thought of as absent-minded.
Regarding the problem related to official documents, the prime minister reiterated his determination to "get rid of all irregularities to achieve an organizational turnaround and do everything in my power to win public trust." A pressing task facing the prime minister is to apportion accountability regarding the scandals and also implement measures to prevent a repeat of such cases.
With the Abe administration staying in power for close to five and a half years, its arrogance and laxity have become conspicuous. He should stay on his toes in running his government.
There is also a problem with the opposition parties, which raise questions not based on objective facts.
Some Diet members have criticized the series of scandals involving the two school corporations, likening it to the Lockheed case involving a massive amount of money allegedly given and taken in bribes. They are open to criticism for manipulating impressions just to disparage the prime minister. It is quite wearying that the same arguments have been repeated over and over again.
The North Korean situation is changing from day to day. In his reply to a question in the Diet, the prime minister said he expects a summit meeting to be realized between the United States and North Korea, while also expressing his intention to resolve the nuclear, missile and abduction problems, based on the Japan-North Korea Pyongyang Declaration.
How should Japan's national interests be secured? The ruling and opposition parties should promote a meaningful battle of words.
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 29, 2018)
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