The investigation team for money scandal of
Governor of Tokyo, Yoichi Masuzoe, concluded on Monday that his spending of
political money was partly inappropriate, finding no illegality. Apologizing
his careless behavior, Masuzoe insisted on continuing his job with firm
determination. The residents of Tokyo must be disappointed to his explanation.
The investigation team listed a number of
hotel stays, dinners, purchase of books or paintings, which were suspected as
inappropriate. Spending of about ¥370,000 for two stays in a hotel in Kisarazu,
Chiba, which had been explained as for political meeting, was concluded as
family trip in a whole context, even if Masuzoe had short business meetings.
The staying in a hotel in Nikko, Tochigi, was regarded as family trip after
visiting an art exhibition.
The team determined that four payments in the
restaurants were also inappropriate. Two of them were done in off-days, which
must have been private family meetings. Other two were also supposed to be
family dinners after movie watching or hotel stay. Masuzoe purchased cartoon
books in his family trip. While he explained it as for his job, it is obvious
that the books were for his children. Collection of expensive paintings or printings
was too much to be explained as studying art.
Masuzoe told that he would pay back that
inappropriate spending through donating to charity organization. Art works will
be exhibited in public facilities like hospitals or nursery homes. To avoid
skepticism of using official vehicle for private purpose, Masuzoe promised to
sell his second house in Yugawara, Kanagawa. Those are the voluntary penalty
for his inappropriate behavior.
What Masuzoe wanted to stress the most was
he did not violate Political Funds Control Act, which does not have any
provision about how political money should be used. However, it is apparent
that money for political activity should not be used for family vacation.
Credibility of Tokyo Governor as a clean politician was seriously eroded. If Masuzoe
wanted to regain his political basis, he should step down and run again in the
next election.
It is also doubtful that the investigation
was exercised from a neutral viewpoint. Two lawyers for the investigation were
appointed with the offer from the secretary of Masuzoe. They looked into this
issue only in the aspect of crime, not regarding political correctness. The
biggest losers are people in Tokyo who elected Masuzoe for their leader.
He is wise enough to decide to sell the second house in Yugawara. He may grt the capital gain and it is muvh better than paying maintenance service fee and fixed asset tax for the useless house with a lot of noisy demo cars of right wing parties, right?
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