Amid revelations that the Defense Agency and Self-Defense Forces compiled private data on individuals requesting disclosure of information, Foreign Minister Yuriko Kawaguchi said Tuesday she does not believe her ministry has conducted a similar practice.
"Following this problem (at the Defense Agency), I checked the next day and I believe we (at the Foreign Ministry) don't have this problem," Kawaguchi said.
She added that she had requested a further investigation.
Kawaguchi admitted that the Foreign Ministry does compile basic information, such as the names and contact details of those seeking information under the information-disclosure law, to keep the ministry updated on how data-release procedures are progressing.
Defense Agency chief Gen Nakatani acknowledged Monday that the agency's bureaus, Air Staff and Ground Staff Offices, and the Maritime Staff Office, compiled data on individuals who had requested information.