Two members of a governmental panel monitoring the environmental impact of the Futenma base relocation within Okinawa Prefecture have admitted to accepting donations from contractors involved.
Kyoto University professor Nobuaki Arai and University of Tokyo professor Hajime Kayane said separately they have accepted donations totaling ¥10.5 million from contractors in Tokyo since 2014.
Both men denied, however, that the payments influenced their actions during panel meetings.