The misappropriation of millions of yen in political funds by Tokyo Gov. Yoichi Masuzoe for private purposes has been declared "inappropriate but not illegal" because the Political Funds Control Law essentially sets no criteria of activities on which political funds — that may derive from donations or taxpayer-funded government subsidy to political parties — can legitimately be spent. Whether the governor survives the intensifying onslaught of public criticism or resigns, the questionable use of political funds — an all-too-common problem — will continue as long as the loophole remains open.
Masuzoe has been under intense heat for his lavish spending on the official trips that he has made as governor since 2014; for repeatedly using his official vehicle to take weekend trips to his private second home, and for a large amount of questionable "political expenses" that funded what appear to be private activities — ranging from wining and dining to hotel stays during family vacations, and from buying comic and mystery books to purchasing works of art through internet auctions.
The lawyers that the governor commissioned to probe his questionable use of political funds concluded this week that at least ¥4.4 million had been misappropriated for private purposes. They called the acts "inappropriate" but "not illegal" because the law governing political funds has no provision that defines the "political activities" whose expenses can be covered. In fact, some of the other expenses that the lawyers determined were "appropriate" included purchases that common sense would hardly deem necessary for political activities — such as a pair of Chinese silk garments for ¥35,000 during his trip to Shanghai in 2011 while he was an Upper House member (even though the lawyers said they found the governor's explanation convincing that his calligraphy is better when he wears Chinese garments, and that his calligraphy hobby helps his political activities).