A political support group for agriculture minister Seiichi Ota declared more than ¥23 million in office fees in 2005 and 2006 in its annual political funding reports for an office registered at the Tokyo home of his ministerial secretary, even though no rent money was actually paid.
Ota has become the first minister in Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda's Cabinet to be scrutinized for his funding management. Similar scandals led to a series of resignations by ministers under Fukuda's predecessor, Shinzo Abe, and eventually led to the downfall of his Cabinet.
But Ota told reporters Tuesday morning he didn't see a problem and expressed his intention to remain as head of the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry despite mounting calls from the opposition parties for his resignation.