Photo/Illutration Reconstruction minister Kenya Akiba speaks with reporters on Nov. 25. (Susumu Imaizumi)

Reconstruction minister Kenya Akiba rejected a media report about questionable payments during the 2021 Lower House election, saying the article was based on false information and inaccurate responses to reporters’ questions.

The online version of the Friday weekly magazine reported on Nov. 23 that two aides to Akiba received payments during the election campaign although they were not registered as campaign staff.

Akiba told reporters on Nov. 25 that the payments of 120,000 yen ($865) and 80,000 yen to the aides, whose regular salaries are covered by government funds, were aboveboard.

“The payments were for the days the two were on the campaign vehicle,” Akiba said. “A proper notification for this role was submitted to the election administration commission.”

The Friday report also said the aides admitted to carrying out duties outside of working in the campaign vehicle, which would constitute a violation of the Public Offices Election Law.

But Akiba told reporters that the aides had given inaccurate responses to questions from the magazine reporters.

He added that he would strive to provide careful explanations in the Diet to eliminate any doubts about possible legal violations.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has been rocked by the resignations of three Cabinet ministers over the course of a month. Having Akiba also step down could be the final straw for his administration.

Akiba has also been questioned by lawmakers about other payments that have raised eyebrows.

Political fund reports for 2021 released by the Miyagi prefectural election administration commission on Nov. 25 showed that two political groups that Akiba heads paid a total of 1.15 million yen in office rent to his wife and mother.

One of the reports also turned up a connection between Akiba and an organization affiliated with the Unification Church, formally known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification.

A group headed by Akiba made a payment of 24,000 yen to the affiliated organization.

When Akiba became reconstruction minister in August, he denied having any ties whatsoever with the Unification Church or its affiliates.

Between 2011 and 2020, the two groups headed by Akiba paid a total of 14.14 million yen to Akiba’s mother and wife.

But the mother did not report the income on her annual tax forms.

In response to questioning in the Diet by opposition lawmakers, Akiba said his mother would revise her past tax reports to fulfill her responsibilities.

It is not a crime to use or pay rent for offices owned by family members.

(Susumu Imaizumi contributed to this article.)

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