New farm minister received donations suspected to be illegal

   Agriculture Minister Akagi Norihiko, who assumed the office in June, had received political donations suspected of being in violation of the Political Funds Control Law from corporations that have received subsidies from the agriculture ministry.

   At a House of Councilors Agriculture Committee meeting on June 12, Japanese Communist Party representative Kami Tomoko revealed this fact.

   The law prohibits corporations receiving government subsidies from making political donations for one year after they receive the notice of the grant.

   Kami pointed out that while receiving subsidies from the ministry, the Japan Dairy Council and the National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations had given political donations to a Liberal Democratic Party branch headed by Akagi.

   A logging industry’s political organization led by the president of an aggregate corporation receiving subsidies from the Forestry Agency had also given donations to Akagi’s fund-management body, according to Kami.

   Akagi in reply said, “I am not aware of the details.”

   Kami severely criticized the minister and said, “These donations are suspected to be illegal. You should immediately return them.”

   Akagi answered, “I will look into the matter and deal with it appropriately.”

- Akahata, June 13, 2007