Opposition lawmakers look to pressure Abe over school scandal

Interesting how this one is still not been put to sleep. There are some angry politicians out there that can not stand Abe.

If this is an actual violation of law, under the "corruption" clause, then why is not Abe prohibited to act on his current position while the investigation is going? There is no official investigation by the anti-corruption state bodies, why? Alas we know why...

Japan needs better scandals. This is the Hello Kitty of political scandals.

I wonder is these protests and others take place all the time in many cities across Japan.

I've always had the impression that the Japanese don't care when it could be they do but the media either can't or wont report it.

It is sad that Akie Abe, who graduated from the Sacred Heart school in Tokyo and a supporter of LGBT is being used (maybe) at the urging of her husband to promote and condone the far right revisionist thinking of the past.

This is about all the opposition can focus on, everything else Abe has done has been good, particularly his foreign policy. It will definitely not be enough to unseat him

think you missed your chance on this one about..... 8 months ago....

too little too late. And strength lies in the fact that his opponents are too week to even notice anymore. This is another fine example.

The fact that little "legal headway" can be made on this, is testimony to the depths of Abe Inc's reach and power.

Bureaucrats shivering on the spot, scared their fabulous pensions and amakudari jobs may well evaporate if they had the gumption to tell the truth.

And why have Kagoike and his wife been "imprisoned" for months on end now? It certainly is to shut them up to stop blabbing all, while a confession suitable to Abe et al is forced from them. No doubt about it. It is totally unreasonable for them to be still in jail with a court case not in sight. A court case mind you that the powers do-not-want-to-see, as lots of stuff will come out and perjury will hang over them like a deadweight.

And since this has been pushed again in the diet, Abe et al have escaped close scrutiny, because the media has focussed on the bells & whistles of the olympic circus to cover the dirt. NHK has reported almost zilch because it's "Oh we're too busy with showing the 13th replay of some skater". Whether the media is collusive or pressured, the result is the same - a neutered story.

And this is just the Moritomo case. Kake Gakuen scandal has even far greater implications as it involves $millions and Abe's best mate is at the head of it all.

And they still bleat for him.

Crazy!

cog9065Today  09:21 am JST

This is about all the opposition can focus on, everything else Abe has done has been good, particularly his foreign policy.

Five years of all talk and no action except for a few "good" things that have not led to any discernible improvements.

It will definitely not be enough to unseat him

No? Abe himself promised to resign if it turns out he was actually involved, and the jury is still out on that. I personally think he was in it up to his neck, given his loathsome personality and the LDP's culture of shady deals with crooks, gangsters and neo-nazis. I could be wrong, of course, but I'm never inclined to give LDP politicians the benefit of the doubt. They rarely deserve it.

Bwahahahaha! Cue the theme from 'The Untouchables!' This is Japan! No proof, no foul!

Old people, who are given those printed signs, maybe actors at that not specified place.

Come on you down voters - challenge my remarks. Declare it false if you so believe , and put out some "alternative facts" to back your cause. At least make a debatable comment.

The secret "righties" strike again - heh, heh!

And again - heh, heh!

Nothing to say. Thought so.

How about praising Abe for his "nothing to do with me" comments. "Just because my wife was the honorary principal of the new Rightist (beyond right) Elementary School and appeared at events and on promotion videos, doesn't mean I had a clue about it".

Yeah - I guess it's disgusting to think that in this day & age in Japan, a Prime ministers wife would have any sway over mere mortal bureaucrats and their decision making. Shame on you all for such suggestive thoughts.

Glad to see people will not shove this under the carpet. The Dear Leader is disgusting.

browny1Feb. 17  07:30 pm JST

Come on you down voters - challenge my remarks. 

Looks like they can't.

tinawatanabeFeb. 17  04:37 pm JST

Old people, who are given those printed signs, maybe actors at that not specified place.

Maybe this is completely fictitious as well?

"As they made their demand, about a thousand people gathered in front of the ministry, carrying placards with slogans such as"Let's expel Abe, (Finance Minister Taro) Aso and Sagawa"."

Maybe you should provide something to back up this allegation, or else admit it is completely ludicrous.

Suspicions that a school operator with ties to Abe's wife, Akie, got a sweetheart deal on land for a school in the western city of Osaka helped erode the premier's popularity last year. The former head of the school operator and his wife were arrested in July on suspicion of illegally receiving subsidies.

That can easily be defined as influence peddling

Influence peddling is the illegal practice of using one's influence in government or connections with persons in authority to obtain favours or preferential treatment for another, usually in return for payment.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Influence_peddling

On 9 December 2016, Park was impeached by the National Assembly on charges related to influence peddling by her top aide, Choi Soon-sil.[5] Her presidential powers and duties were suspended with the ratification of the impeachment

Park is currently held under arrest at Seoul Detention Center.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Park_Geun-hye

Just saying....

Opposition parties need fresh scandals of Abe and Aso. Repeating same stories do not attract tabloid editors' mind either.

Really, put it to bed already! No charges have been made and wont be made, so give up!

toshikoFeb. 19  11:03 pm JST

Opposition parties need fresh scandals of Abe and Aso. Repeating same stories do not attract tabloid editors' mind either.

They're not exactly just repeating the story though, are they. Documents that were reported as destroyed were actually kept? That's a new twist. The man who said they'd been destroyed is now refusing to say any more? This story is not going to go away if stuff like that keeps happening.