Land minister Nobuteru Ishihara charged Sunday that Japan Highway Public Corp. President Haruho Fujii tried to blackmail him by indicating knowledge of shady land deals involving influential politicians.
If such a scandal came to light, "there will be dead people," Ishihara quoted Fujii as saying. Ishihara made the allegation in interviews aired Sunday morning by Fuji TV and TV Asahi.
Fujii's remarks came during a five-hour meeting with Ishihara on Oct. 5, the land minister said. After that meeting, Ishihara announced he was seeking Fujii's resignation. Fujii has refused to comply.