The Japan Dental Federation may have indirectly provided ¥50 million to a supporters' group of Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Midori Ishii in 2013, political funds reports from the groups suggest.
The Japan Dental Federation, a political body linked to the country's dental association, also offered ¥45 million directly to Ishii, a dentist and second-term member of the Upper House from the ruling party, also in 2013, according to the reports.
The total of ¥95 million exceeds the annual ceiling of ¥50 million set for funds that can be provided between political groups under the 1948 Political Funds Control Act.
On Jan. 23, 2013, the federation provided ¥50 million to a supporters' group of Masami Nishimura, an Upper House member from the opposition Democratic Party of Japan, who is also a dentist. Later in the day, Nishimura's group donated ¥50 million to Ishii's group.
The federation then directly donated ¥45 million to Ishii's group two months later on March 15.
Mikimasa Takagi, president of the Japan Dental Federation, also heads the support groups for the two lawmakers and the offices of the three entities are located in the same building in Tokyo.