National Jun 5, 2021
32 Japanese bureaucrats punished over wining-and-dining scandal
Of the 32 officials, nine have been subjected to disciplinary action, including five who were given pay cuts. Another 23 have been reprimanded.
National / Politics Apr 1, 2021
No-confidence motion against Japan's communications minister fails to pass
Amid a wining and dining scandal at the ministry, the motion said Ryota Takeda is not qualified to serve as minister as he drank with NTT executives but repeatedly refused to admit it.
National | EXPLAINER Mar 23, 2021
Communications ministry scandal puts focus on Japan's Broadcast Act
by Eric Johnston
A decision to strip a unit of Tohokushinsha of its license came after a number of senior officials connected to the ministry were punished for violating the ethics code.
National / Media | MEDIA MIX Mar 20, 2021
Did Japan's press drop the ball on the wining-and-dining scandal?
by Philip Brasor
Why did mainstream media outlets take so long to probe the scandals involving the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications that were first uncovered by weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun?
National / Politics Mar 16, 2021
Senior bureaucrat close to Suga resigns amid hospitality scandal
Taniwaki, who had been touted as a candidate for vice minister, the top post for bureaucrats at the communications ministry, was found to have violated the ethics code for central government officials.
National | EXPLAINER Mar 12, 2021
Japan's ethics code for officials in focus as dining scandal rumbles on
by Eric Johnston
The National Public Service Ethics Code sets clear expectations for ministry life in hope of preventing the kind of conflicts of interest in which Suga's eldest son has been implicated.
National Mar 3, 2021
Foreign Ministry official replaces scandal-hit Suga's press officer
Deputy Press Secretary Hikariko Ono assumed the post vacated by Makiko Yamada, who resigned Monday.
National / Politics Mar 1, 2021
Elite bureaucrat's resignation takes the wind out of Suga's sails
by Satoshi Sugiyama
Makiko Yamada's scandal-linked resignation jeopardizes attempts by Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to rally support following his heavily criticized handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
National Feb 26, 2021
Suga denies ethics scandal pushed him to skip news conference
Cabinet Public Relations Secretary Makiko Yamada came under fire after she was found to have been treated to a luxurious dinner in 2019 by Suga's eldest son.
National / Politics Feb 25, 2021
Elite bureaucrat Makiko Yamada refuses to resign in Seigo Suga dinner scandal
Yamada was treated to a meal worth ¥74,000 by the prime minister's son and other officials from a broadcasting firm while overseeing policy at the communications ministry.
National / Politics | EXPLAINER Feb 23, 2021
Influence-peddling scandal: How Suga ended up in the hot seat again
by Eric Johnston
Revelations that Seigo Suga wined and dined officials have again raised questions about influence peddling at the highest levels of government.