The Cabinet Office admitted Thursday that it and the education ministry planted people at five out of eight town meetings on education reform to give government-authored statements supporting the controversial bill to revise the education law.
The Cabinet Office issued a report on its investigation into tampering with the town meetings, which were started in 2001 and were set up by then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to improve communication between the government and the public.
The five town meetings were held between Dec. 13, 2003, and September in Gifu, Wakayama, Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture, Beppu, Oita Prefecture and Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture. The Cabinet Office revealed the Hachinohe incident Tuesday.
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