Governor Ishihara took his son to Switzerland at government expense

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Governor Ishihara took his son to Switzerland at government expense

Tokyo Governor Ishihara Shintaro took his son Nobuhiro with him to Switzerland at the expense of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

Revealed by the Japanese Communist Party Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly members group on December 5, this scandal adds fuel to the already strong criticism that governor Ishihara misuses the Tokyo Metropolitan Government affairs for his own personal benefit.

When Governor Ishihara attended a World Economic Forum annual meeting held in Davos in January 2004, his fourth son Nobuhiro, an artist, accompanied him on the grounds that Nobuhiro had designed the scene for the stage to be used at a reception called "Tokyo Night" hosted by the governor.

Nobuhiro went to Switzerland twice including a preparatory survey in December 2003. The costs for his trips were paid by the metropolitan government, but the paperwork necessary to send him required by the ordinance have not been filed.

The JCP assembly members group made public an e-mail that shows how Nobuhiro's trips were made possible without following due process.

The e-mail dated on November 26, 2003 was sent from a metropolitan government department head to Imamura Yusaku, a friend of Governor Ishihara who serves as the director of Ishihara's brainchild art project. The e-mail stated that the cost for producing the stage scene that includes the expense for Nobuhiro's trips will be slipped into the contract for the overall "Tokyo Night" performance.

The JCP assembly members group criticized the Tokyo Metropolitan Government for disbursing tax money in such a hidden manner. It also pointed out that a close aid to Governor Ishihara could have been involved in this scheme since his name appeared in the e-mail.
- Akahata Sunday Edition, December 10, 2006