Finance ministry to admit doctoring documents linked to Abe cronyism scandal: media

Those chairs need higher back and neck support, so they can nap more restfully. Have intertwines gnarled wood high back classic chairs

The scapegoat:

a finance ministry official, who was reportedly at the heart of a scandal over the cut-price sale of government-owned land to a close friend of Abe, was found dead and a second key official stepped down Friday.

The criminal:

Finance Minister Taro Aso who insisted on Friday he had no plans to resign over the affair.

And, the untouchable:

The scandal has dogged Abe since it first emerged last February, though the prime minister has consistently denied any wrongdoing 

And, no criminal charges. TIJ folks!

gary - perhaps you haven't been in Japan so long.

Or perhaps you have?

Dango's point I assume was, that officaldom in Japan (read govt agencies at any level) almost never ever admit to failings.

The 3 Ds often apply - Deny, Deflect, Destroy.

A little bit of light the cockroaches scramble, 1 dead, 1 retired, 2 clueless and what? Next the veterinary university. Don't have to be a puzzle master to put this together....ooh that's corruption.

Good to hear the truth might be coming out, if confirmed Aso should resign

If this much has come out, there must be a TON more hidden in the closet. Now more than ever, I wish there were a Snowden or an Assange in Japan to blow the gaffe on LDP corruption. There is MUCH more than this.

For a democracy that's not healthy.

Democracy?

Have to say having watched Japan's political clown circle for 20 years this is a big thing. And there is more to come. The LDP have been in power for almost as long as the communist party in China. For a democracy that's not healthy.

a major blow to the prime minister who enjoys relatively high public support.

Not for long, all the Sunday AM talking heads programs went into depth in their take of the current scandal. As long as the wide-shows keep this in the front it is not going away. The Asahi Shinbun is leading the pack and if the other newspapers as well get on the train, Abe's days will be numbered.

If Abe and Aso need to be kicked out even jailed... but will they? Who can stand up to them? Not even laws can touch them!?

He was found on the end of a rope, with a note. The police are investigating!.

Shinzo Abe on the photo:"Yabeeeeeee".

For starters, lets get rid of Taro Aso. I watched his Friday press conference and the contempt he held for the reporters that they dared to ask him TARO ASO a question was unbelievable. Then we move on to Abe and all the lies and falsehoods he has carried out to help his friends and supporters.

This is when Kishida must declare that he is going to challenge Abe for the LDP leadership, just to give LDP voters another choice.

As someone said above, Abe must be ruing the fact that NK now has a plan to meet with the US, he could always count on a missile attack to help him out. But that bogeyman is gone, for now. Maybe he'll call Kim himself and set up his own meeting to discuss the kidnapped Japanese, that would get the press off his back, wouldn't it?

Now that's a step forward, to admit altering documents that spell trouble for Abe and his cronies. But will this be swept under the rug? Abe must be desperately hoping for some provocation from NK right about now.. but alas the planned talks between NK and USA are not until May.. oh what to do .. what to do..

Can you imagine how many more documents have been doctored that we don't know about? In fact, given the record of information doctoring by the Japanese government, why would anyone even believe anything any government official says?

This is what eventually happens in what has basically been a one party state for over 60 years. Bribe the populace, shut the press up (Japan now ranks #72 for press freedom, after being in the top 10), then do what the hell you want. Funded by their business mates, supported by dodgy far right nationalists, this is how the LDP operates.

A: Toshiba, Olympus, Nissan, Nippon Steel, the Ministry of Finance and so on. Japan needs a philosophy or someone to explain how ethical behavior relates to behavior governed by law and free choice; and how individual and organizational factors shape ethical decision making.

B: Yeah, but corruption exists in other countries too. Japan isn’t the only one!

dcog9065, why would you treat Aso and Abe differently ? Both lied in public.

Finance ministry to admit doctoring documents

in Japan? No way!

Dango bongToday

Finance ministry to admit doctoring documents

in Japan? No way!

Why no way?

Admit, apologize for causing confusion, and move on.

Nothing to see hear. These are NOT the drones we are looking for.

Gary

BTW, about the guy who was "found dead", was there anything more to the story there, how did he die? People don't just up and die

AkieToday  12:10 pm JST

dcog9065, why would you treat Aso and Abe differently ? Both lied in public.

It seems dcog9065 is... "unable to respond". I wonder why.

Rule based Japan should fire the criminals immediately. How many people have to comitt suicide before it is too late ?

MarkX, Abe will do anything to keep his PM job. He is very adaptive. LDP has to revolt from within to nail him down.

That's what government goes to bureaucracy and vice-versa : what goes around comes around.