The Cabinet of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is in crisis, stung by scandals that have bitten into his public approval ratings in recent weeks.

At a glance, these scandals look like separate events with little connecting them. But experts say they have one grave problem in common: an apparent violation of the Public Records and Archives Management Act.

How have government documents been mismanaged in the scandals? Why are they important? What measures are experts proposing to improve the situation?