With a general election looming, one of Prime Minister Taro Aso's key Cabinet members has put him in a predicament with his refusal to support the reappointment of the head of Japan Post Holdings Co., the body formed as a result of the postal system privatization.
Kunio Hatoyama, the internal affairs and communications minister, adamantly opposes Yoshifumi Nishikawa's reappointment as president of Japan Post, which is wholly owned by the government.
Hatoyama wants to hold Nishikawa responsible for the firm's dubious attempt to sell the Kampo no Yado nationwide resort inn network at fire-sale prices to Orix Corp. in what was deemed a conflict of interest.