On Thursday a former top ministry official dropped a bombshell in a hastily held news conference in Tokyo.

Kihei Maekawa, former vice minister of education, alleged that the Cabinet Office distorted administrative processes by citing the intent of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in approving a project concerning Kake Gakuen, a school run by his close friend.

Supporting these claims, Maekawa attested to the authenticity of eight documents, which had been circulating in the media and political circles, asserting that they were produced by education ministry officials last year when he was vice minister.