Prosecutors sought a four-year prison term Friday for former Justice Minister Katsuyuki Kawai, who has been indicted on a charge of vote buying aimed at securing a seat for his wife in a 2019 House of Councilors election.

In seeking the prison term and the forfeit of ¥1.5 million during his trial at the Tokyo District Court, the prosecutors said the former House of Representatives lawmaker, 58, had "ultimate responsibility for the election" of his wife Anri Kawai and "managed all activities related" to achieving his wife's election victory.

"It was unprecedented massive vote buying," they said.