Newly appointed consumer affairs chief Kenji Yamaoka says he will keep an eye on shady businesses that target consumers, while claiming that donations he received from businesses and a group involved in a pyramid scheme were legal.

Yamaoka, 68, received ¥2.54 million from the dubious sources between 2005 and 2008.

According to his political funding report, the DPJ chapter in the Tochigi No. 4 district headed by Yamaoka got ¥2.06 million, while his own fund management body received ¥480,000.