Tokyo Gov. Naoki Inose's announcement of his intention to resign does not relieve him of the public duty to give a convincing explanation of the ¥50 million he received under questionable circumstances from the scandal-tainted Tokushukai hospital operator group in November 2012. He owes that duty to Tokyoites who voted him into office with a record 4.33 million votes just about a year ago. In addition, prosecutors should conduct an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the loan in an effort to determine the truth.
In a Dec. 19 news conference, Inose clung to his claim that the money was a personal loan, and not an undeclared contribution to his campaign for the gubernatorial election in December 2012, although he received the money right after he visited group founder Torao Tokuda to tell him he was running in the race.
The money was returned to Tokushukai only after the hospital group was investigated by prosecutors in September for alleged illegal activities in the election campaign for the founder's son Takeshi, who was returned to the Lower House in the December 2012 election.