Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara denied reports that political pressures from China affected the metropolitan government's recent decision to deny nonprofit organization status to the Japanese branch of China's outlawed Falun Gong spiritual movement.
Speaking at a regular news conference Friday, Ishihara said Tokyo rejected the group's application for NPO status Wednesday after careful deliberation on whether the group meets the requirements for such status.
NPO status cannot be granted to groups with primarily religious or political aims.