Editorial: Inose no longer viable as Tokyo governor
Tokyo Gov. Naoki Inose was grilled during regular Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly sessions on Dec. 9 and 10 over the 50 million yen in funds he received from the Tokushukai Group ahead of the Tokyo gubernatorial election in December last year.
Gov. Inose reiterated his insistence that he borrowed the massive funds in his personal capacity. In the meantime, his explanations changed at pivotal points and his answers were evasive, with the governor saying he did not remember the details. Inose has been far from fulfilling his accountability in a sincere manner.
Various factions in the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly have started arguing that Inose is no longer qualified to serve as governor. While Inose has announced that he will give up his salary for the next year and showed his willingness to stay in power, concerns persist over the stagnation of such key issues as preparations for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the formulation of the fiscal 2014 draft budget. In the face of the ongoing scandal, would Inose still be able to carry his weighty responsibilities? The metropolitan assembly is poised to further grill the governor at general affairs committee sessions even after the metropolitan assembly is adjourned at the end of this week. Unless Inose makes explanations that can convince voters, he should step down voluntarily.
On Nov. 6 last year, Inose, who had decided to run in the gubernatorial race, met with Torao Tokuda, former head of Tokushukai Group. On Nov. 20 that year, Inose received the 50 million yen from House of Representatives member Takeshi Tokuda, Torao's second son. It is natural to assume that the money was provided for the sake of Inose's imminent campaigning. The Tokushukai Group, on the other hand, had received massive amounts of subsidies from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government for the medical facilities the group runs in the capital.
Since the revelation of the 50 million yen funding scandal on Nov. 22 this year, Inose has been busy excusing himself over the shady transaction. Although the governor released a debt statement on the funds on Nov. 26, the paper only bore his name and the amount of money, sparking suspicions over whether the document was really made when he accepted the money.
At a Dec. 10 metropolitan assembly session, Inose said the debt statement was sent from Mitsuhiro Kimura, representative of the right-wing political group Issuikai, after Inose returned the 50 million yen to the Tokushukai Group. But Inose has given little explanation on why Kimura, Inose's long-time friend, acted as a go-between for Inose and the Tokuda family.
During the same session, Inose also said he instructed his wife to rent a safe the day before he received the 50 million yen -- remarks conflicting with his earlier assertion that he was surprised to see the big cash amount in front of himself and thought he had to put it in a rental safe on the very day he accepted the money. The changing of his explanations apparently underscores his fears that he can no longer clearly explain the contract date for the rental safe. Coupled with the fact that he received the funds in cash, which leaves no bank transaction records, suspicions grow that Inose was fully prepared to receive the 50 million yen.
Meanwhile, Inose has repeatedly stressed that he did not know about the Tokushukai hospital projects and justified failing to report the 50 million yen in his financial statement, saying, "I was confused. That was a clerical mistake." These explanations are far from convincing. Unless the governor gives any clearer explanations, the metropolitan assembly should look to set up an investigation committee entailing penalties for perjury and adopting a no-confidence motion against him.
December 12, 2013(Mainichi Japan)
Thanks to the editorial staff of Mainichi Japan
and current press writers overseas for the inquiry
from the foreign correspondents, USA and EU.
tj.koga, desk, nihonjiji sinnbunnsha
Jin.karatsu, chief editor
H.Saishouji , general editorial corrrespondent
全国消費者国民運動連絡協議会
全国ゴルフ会員の権利を守る弁護士団シンポジューム
日本時事新聞社
国際ゴルフ記者クラブ協会
全国メデイア報道３８４社連絡会議
Ｅａｇｌｅ ｅｙｅ 読者会
