Abe revises when he knew about friend's vet school application

The BS level is off the chart, already back-pedalling

The biggest scandal is that government approval is required at all in order to open and run a school.

There would be no political scandals around schools in "special economic zones" if government weren't involved in the business of those wishing to run schools in the first place. 

Educators should run schools and attract students by themselves, and schools that do not provide educational services of sufficient value will not exist. 

Under the current set up it appears that running a school is just an easy way to secure tax payer monies without providing services of commensurate value, especially if you know the Prime Minister. But I don't see the opposition (or J-media) pointing this out.

Semantics now, politically, post factual, "a lie that is half truth is the darkest of all lies."...and once too often....

Look out Pinnocchio, your nose is growing.

Why bother, Mr Abe. Some'll support you, but they won't believe you.

If PM Abe long term friend director Kotaro Kake comes to diet could be much simple...Why does he deny?

Whenever and whatever Abe revises, something must be seriously wrong.

This type of corruption makes me think Abe is a sick puppy!

The 'best' part is that Abe will start saying, "Look, I already corrected what I said earlier, so you can't use that against me. The earlier fact has been retracted and changed." No wonder this guy thinks he can change all of history in books and in speeches.

Why diet and not court? Oh, I guess Abe controls the courts.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday revised when he first knew about a friend's application to open a veterinary school at the center of a suspected cronymism scandal, saying he only became aware of the plan after it was approved.

Abe, whose ratings have plunged below 30 percent in some polls over the issue, earlier said he knew about his friend's school when the application was lodged -- 10 days earlier.

Hot damn; Japan deserves better than this. Mr Abe does remind me of another politician with poor ratings and garbled recall, though.

"After sorting it out, I must apologise for confusing Imabari City and Kake Gakuen a bit."

Although he does apologise. Not that it solves the problem in hand and the dubious political future, mind.

The usually weak opposition tore strips off Abe today. Some members dispensed with the usual keigo honorifics and addressed the Prime Minister as if he was an ordinary citizen in the street. Abe looked visually shaken. I was amazed to hear Diet members actually yell out it was inconceivable people could now believe anything Abe was saying, interrupting the PM as he spoke. He has now been proved to have lied in his previous testimony in the Diet. We already knew it but now it is a matter of public record and has been recorded officially. It is worth noting that Abe and the LDP commands a large majority in both the upper and lower houses of the Diet. In theory he could remain in power for several more years even though his public approval rate will continue to collapse. One likely outcome would be him being replaced (by Kishida? or possibily Ishiba?) as early as next spring. This would allow the LDP to elect a new leader in the forseeable future without calling a lower house election allowing them to recover some of the public trust. His position is already untenable. For some, this humiliation for the rest of his life may be punishment enough but for many others, they hope that Abe is held criminally accountable. For lying in his Diet testimony, for breaking Japanese laws regarding favoritism, for steamrolling acts through the Diet purely to live out his pet dream of making Japan "beautiful" and ready for war, not to mention his denying history, which is immoral and rightly illegal in some countries. He has broken many other promises and pledges and his "Abenomics" failures continue to drag Japan down. Abe's days are numbered and his reputation is tarnished forever. I personally hope he pays for what he has done to Japan and that his removal from office, reputation as a criminal, liar, and a failure who put his personal interests first, causing great damage to his country and its repuation, will serve as a lesson for future generations. Well, I have hope anyway. There is so much to love about Japan. It could, and should do better.

Well, I've got to cheer for someone, and so far Renho hasn't disappointed. I just hope she can keep her nose clean.

Why diet and not court? Oh, I guess Abe controls the courts.

Abe is above the law.

In consequence as a result, he only lose to Mr. Donald Trump!

He suffers from egomania, what can you say.

Is Abe saying that it's just a coincidence that his mates Kake and Kagoike were both given cheap or free land and government subsidies to set up their schools, whilst he knew absolutely nothing about it? I'd say it's far more likely that crooked Abe was deeply involved in both cases.

In court, the subject have right to be silence. Only one attorney questions at a time.

Political case, the all of inquiry panel members can behave like they are all district attorney.

"@Scrote: this is. Abe inquiry on his involvement of favoritism. Are you trying to shift. Case to Kagoike to defend Abe's action of political favoritism practice????