Japan’s Only Female Cabinet Minister Hit by Influence-for-Cash Scandal

October 19, 2018

Tokyo- Satsuki Katayama, currently the only woman serving as a cabinet minister in Japan, now faces allegations that she received money in return for exerting influence over the national tax authority.

According to an article published in the latest edition of the Shukan Bunshun weekly magazine that hit the store shelves on Thursday, Katayama, a former Finance Ministry bureaucrat, was asked by a company owner to help the company remain eligible for the "blue return" preferential tax treatment and phoned a tax official she knew for a long time in 2015. A private male secretary to her demanded an advance payment of one million yen for her role, and the payment was made.

The special tax benefits were initially approved, but the company owner sought Katayama's influence because the permission was about to be canceled. Despite her phone call, however, the approval was revoked, the article said.

"I've never gone between or accepted one million yen," Katayama, regional revitalization minister, said in an interview with each media organization. "(The article contains) factual errors and is inaccurate."

Claiming that her social reputation was "significantly undermined," Katayama said she is preparing to sue the magazine publisher as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, Katayama declined to make detailed comments on the report, citing her lawyer's instructions.

Lawmakers and others holding public office are banned by law to influence public servants at the request of third parties and gain property benefits as rewards. Violators of the law will get prison terms of up to three years.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said at a press conference on the day that Katayama is believed to have told the press the truth. "I expect her to fulfill her accountability," the top government spokesman said.

A series of scandals have already hit the fourth cabinet of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe since its launch on Oct. 2. Besides Katayama, the involved include education minister Masahiko Shibayama and postdisaster reconstruction minister Hiromichi Watanabe.

A senior member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party voiced concern over the opposition camp going offensive during the upcoming extraordinary Diet session, to be convened on Wednesday.

A senior LDP member in charge of parliamentary affairs expressed hope that the Diet business will not be messed up by more scandals.

The opposition camp takes aim at Katayama, who has records of problematic behavior as a lawmaker, such as late appearance at a parliamentary meeting.

"The latest allegations (against Katayama) are serious," Japanese Communist Party leader Kazuo Shii said. "If true, Prime Minister Abe should of course be held responsible for her appointment." Jiji Press