Tokyo public prosecutors are probing the alleged embezzlement of political campaign funds from the Japan Dentists Federation, the lobby for the Japan Dental Association. The investigation reached a new stage last week when a former Lower House member of the Liberal Democratic Party, Mr. Yukihiro Yoshida, was arrested on charges of misappropriating some of the money donated by the federation.

Prosecutors also arrested two men on charges of complicity: the former chairman of the JDA, Mr. Sadao Usuda, and a former JDA treasurer. The focal question, once again, concerns whether money played a corrupting role in politics. More specifically, what was Mr. Usuda's aim? And what was his relationship with Mr. Yoshida, also a dentist?

Separately, the Tokyo District Public Prosecutor's Office is also investigating an alleged 100 million yen donation from Mr. Usuda to the LDP's largest faction headed by former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto. The faction says there is no way to "confirm" who received the money or why.