Abe denies school head’s graft claim

TOKYO: The head of a Japanese nationalist school at the heart of a swirling political scandal said in sworn testimony in parliament yesterday he had received a donation of 1 million yen (R113 000) from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s wife in her husband’s name.

The controversy has chipped away at Abe’s support and even sent Japanese shares briefly lower yesterday, but Abe has said neither he nor his wife, Akie, intervened in a sweetheart land deal in which educational group Moritomo Gakuen, based in Osaka, bought state-owned land at a fraction of its appraisal price to build a primary school.

Abe has also denied allegations by Yasunori Kagoike, who has said he would step down as head of Moritomo Gakuen, that Akie had donated the money on the prime minister’s behalf.

Akie had been set to be honorary principal of the school, which was to open next month with a curriculum based on pre-war patriotism that taught pupils to be subjects, not citizens. She cut her ties after the scandal broke. The group currently runs a kindergarten with a similar curriculum.

Kagoike, in testimony to an upper house budget committee under oath – which means he could face perjury charges if he is found to have lied – said he received money from Abe’s wife in 2015 when the two of them were alone in a room.

“She said ‘please, this is from Shinzo Abe’. and gave me an envelope with 1 million yen in it,” he said.

“Abe’s wife apparently says she doesn’t remember this at all, but since this was a matter of honour to us, I remember it quite vividly.”

Kagoike is a member of Nippon Kaigi, a nationalist lobby group that promotes a traditional ethos mixing Shinto myth, patriotism and pride in an ancient imperial line. The group has close ties to Abe and his cabinet.

Abe has denied he or Akie intervened in the land deal, or helped the school get accredited. He has said he would resign if evidence to the contrary were found.

Asked about the deal, Kagoike said: “My understanding is that political involvement probably took place regarding the acquisition of state-owned land.” Reuters