DPJ says Amari graft accusations more serious than previous Abe setbacks

But by attacking Amari fiercely, they can make the scandal dominate headlines and potentially hurt voter support for Abe ahead of an upper house election in the summer.

They can only dominate headlines as long as the media chooses to print what they have to say.

“Second of all, no matter how you look at it, this is not the kind of case where procedural errors are to be blamed,” said Edano, who himself is a lawyer.

Ah, Edano obviously hasn't looked at it through the kind of logic that a panel, or high-level judge, or prosecutors might use when trying to protect the establishment and its influential figures then. No matter how obvious it might be to us, we can never imagine the sophistry that might be used.

A smart political leader would have gotten rid of this guy already. Every day this is allowed to continue unresolved does more damage to the political standing of the Prime Minister.

Yubaru - you're right - the media is controlled now...so look forward to some more celebrity scandals to divert our attention. Grrrr....

It would be good for the average Sakurako and Taro if the corrupt Abe regime falls; however, waiting to replace it are guys such as Edano. He was the one who went on the news night after night during the Fukushima nuclear meltdown and lied to the public that everything was all right, when he knew otherwise. It's like a choice for lunch of a fast-food burger or a convenience store bento. Either way, not much nutritional value.

a politician taking money? we need to put a stop to that! errrr

The DPJ is actually right about this, accusations of flat out bribery are way more serious than the scandals a year ago, one of which was just a matter of handing out paper fans with no real value.

This one is more like the case of Muneo Suzuki in the early 00s, who took bribes, was convicted, and spent several years in prison. He is out now and still seems to be active in Senior LDP circles, which says something...

Abe has, until now, managed to bluff his way through various scandals pretty well. It's true they've been less potentially serious, and also involved lesser cabinet ministers. But do not underestimate his ability to tough things out until the press - which is getting tamer - drops it.

Warispeace, first of all, Edano belongs to the Democrats and they're not in power. So Abe's replacement would be from the LDP and there's a dearth of guys who they THINK have enough experience to be in power.

As for Edano lying about Fukushima, do you think an LDP government would have been any more honest at that point? LDP governments are the ones who CREATED the whole rotten system of nuclear power and let it be run as the companies wanted for years. They wouldn't have done anything different.

Amari is under fire over a media report that he and his aides had accepted money from a construction company in >>exchange for helping the firm receive compensation for disputes over land ownership and waste removal at a public works >>site.

How much public money have been diverted as compensation to that company from that state owned entity ? We know the company gave 12 million yens so I am assuming the amount received in exchange must be far greater. so this seems to be not only a case of bribery, but bribery in order to receive public money. We need a real judge/police investigation in that case, unless Amari put himself above the law.

They can only dominate headlines as long as the media chooses to print what they have to say.

and why shouldn't they be printing this? this scandal actually has meat on it. this isn't obuchi taking her constituents to see kabuki. this is a gov't official peddling his influence to the highest bidder. that's not worthy of news in okinawa?

The fact that Economy Minister Akira Amari represented the Government of Japan on a platform alongside Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda with International business and political leaders looking on, at the World Economic Forum, is a an affront to the very basic principals that ensures respective national institutions provide demonstrably accountable governance.

The essential behaviours underpinning confidence that commits long term private investment capital to Japans export market depends primarily on institutionalized ruling parties making credible commitments to investors. The so called 'Abenomic' arrows touted within key economic policies, i.e the comprehensive, fundamental restructuring and reforms of, agriculture, tax, employment and social benefit system, pensions etc are all illusionary frankly a farce.

On Economy Minister Akira Amari immediate resignation, damage could have been confined in a limited extent to Akira Amari and his political advisors and secretariat. That missed opportunity has serious ramifications, the consequences are incalculable. The rule of law clearly does not apply to the highest levels of Abe LDP government. Toxic levels of vested corporate interests can influence the very principals of democratic government. The is no barriers to prevent corruption and bribery, compounded by a singular lack of transparency.

Come on, folks calling above fro MORE censorship than the normal amount we already get day in day out, you know better!!

And yeah Amari should have resigned by now or do the USUAL & have one or more of his '"secretaries"" take the fall as usual as THATS what they are designed to DO, take the fall for the master, so the master just goes for a long coffee break than promptly comes back to the trough for more helpings of graft $$$!!!

So tis will play out some more, a secretary will take the "blame" & take the heat, then it will be back to business as usual, I have seen this exact situation play out many times over 2+decades, same will happen this time.

@el

Warispeace, first of all, Edano belongs to the Democrats and they're not in power.

I should have been clearer and said Abe and the LDP should go.

As for Edano lying about Fukushima, do you think an LDP government would have been any more honest at that point? LDP governments are the ones who CREATED the whole rotten system of nuclear power and let it be run as the companies wanted for years. They wouldn't have done anything different.

I agree. I don't think the LDP would have been more honest. And, yes, they built the nuclear village and are doing their best to maintain it. I just wanted to point out, for those who have not been around Japan that long or those with short memories, that Edano is also another in a long line of lying politicians and we should not expect much better even if the DPJ were elected. Though that doesn't mean the electorate shouldn't punish the present bunch for all their deception and failures by throwing them out of office when they get the chance.

and why shouldn't they be printing this? this scandal actually has meat on it. this isn't obuchi taking her constituents to see kabuki. this is a gov't official peddling his influence to the highest bidder. that's not worthy of news in okinawa?

The press in Japan chooses what to print or not and not based upon whether it is newsworthy or not.

AND ... wait for it ... nothing will happen. Move along nothing to see.

Economy Minister Akira Amari had taken bribes

Oh the irony... Japan really needs an independent review committee or the equivalent to a Royal Commission. You just get the same old boys' club members investigating their own wrongdoings and subsequently sweeping everything under the rug. The longer I live here, the more I see Japan as a communist nation...

An assumption that Economy Minister Akira Amari central role in negotiating TPP prevented his dismissal doesn't stack up to logical reasoning.

All J economic sectors covered under TPP will require variable levels of direct/indirect subsidies or prolonged exclusions. These numbers remain unaccounted as to how they will be costed. Akira Amari has and continues to be heading towards budgetary oblivion in the form of a consumer tax hike, essential to rein in public debt unable to balance a ever growing list of exemptions.

A Preposterous situation still exists where up to 40% of the workforce, a number of which carry out identical roles and functions but earn proportionately less in both remuneration and conditions of employment than their full time counterparts. This has dramatic consequences to levels of productivity throughout the economy as a whole. a situation the entire cabinet must share responsibility for.

The DPJ has little if nothing to offer in policy proposals other than booing from the gallery. Lowering the voting age to 18 will involve 2.4 million in the political process. The opposition parties must engage this demographic effectively to bring about political change.

I just wanted to point out, for those who have not been around Japan that long or those with short memories, that Edano is >>also another in a long line of lying politicians and we should not expect much better even if the DPJ were elected.

Very true. He lied to the public and he was the person in charge of the TEPCO bailout, injecting huge tax money and make made the state a main owner of that crappy company.

Good luck to dude, I hope he pulls through. Not a big fan of any of these "just got back from a trip from yasukuni" look to them dudes, but hate to see somebody dragged down like this. Once the media gets on these guys they are relentless. Took a bribe, didnt take a bribe, its the way things are done in Japan, thats unfortunate. But if its an unwritten rule, and they are all doing it, whats the big deal?

Isn't this the main why people become politicians, to take money, feed off the public, and create more opportunities to do so?

If these politicians are so squeaky clean as they say they are, especially after someone accuses them of taking bribes, I am sure that they won't mind if a police investigation commity looks into all of there bank accounts just to clear them of any wrong doing.

We can accept politicians lying…that's what they do and nothing is gonna change that.

But taking money in exchange for awarding contracts and getting richer for being dishonest is waaay beyond acceptable to most folk.

But if its an unwritten rule, and they are all doing it, whats the big deal?

If they're all really more interested in the welfare of some rich people passing them piles of cash in brown paper bags than representing the people who voted for them, you don't think that's a big deal?