Takao Koyama, a former LDP Upper House lawmaker, admitted Wednesday in his first trial hearing that he received money from the mutual aid provider KSD but denied any of it amounted to bribes for specific favors.
The Tokyo District Court hearing marks the start of trials involving two former Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers accused of abusing their political influence.
The trial of Koyama's boss, former LDP heavyweight Masakuni Murakami, will get under way next week.