In a reversal of his earlier stance, Chief Cabinet Secretary Seiroku Kajiyama released late May 20 the names of four Cabinet members who have dealt with and may still hold accounts with Nomura Securities Co.
The four Cabinet members are Justice Minister Isao Matsuura, Science and Technology Agency Chief Riichiro Chikaoka, Posts and Telecommunications Minister Hisao Horinouchi, and Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Takao Fujimoto.
The top government spokesman said that by May 23 the government will start thorough investigations into whether Nomura and other securities firms have shown favor to political organizations, secretaries, family members or other parties close to the Cabinet members. Earlier in the morning, Kajiyama revealed that three Cabinet members have accounts with the nation's top brokerage but refrained from identifying them to protect their privacy.
He said that the Cabinet members hold only government bonds, midterm government bonds and bond trusts. He claimed it is impossible for Nomura to provide special treatment over these instruments.