The repeated problems involving money in politics don't seem to be playing much of a role in the campaign for the upcoming Upper House election, including the scandal that led to the resignation earlier this year of economy minister Akira Amari over his office's questionable receipt of money from a construction company seeking favors. The scandal that engulfed former Tokyo Gov. Yoichi Masuzoe, which made headlines for weeks until he quit just before the Upper House campaign began, now seems like a thing of the past as attention shifts to who will run in a special election next month to succeed him.

But the problems highlighted in Amari's case and Masuzoe's misappropriation of political funds remain unaddressed. The exit of politicians under fire does nothing to fill the loopholes in the system that is controlling political funds or fix the shortcomings of the anti-graft law. Their problems should not be cast aside as isolated incidents.

The campaign platform of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Liberal Democratic Party does not mention any action related to the issue of money and politics, even though several members of Abe's Cabinet have come under fire over the issue and some were forced to resign from their ministerial positions, including Amari in January.