Key Facts
• In 2017, Japan’s Ministry of Finance sold state land to Moritomo Gakuen with an 8 billion yen discount.
• Toshio Akagi, a finance official, was ordered to falsify documents related to the sale and later died by suicide.
• On June 11, 2025, the Ministry of Finance disclosed 9,000 pages of documents, including Akagi’s handwritten notes.
• Akagi’s notes, dated April 14, 2017, include statements like “8 billion is too much” and references to legal provisions such as Article 239 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
• Article 239 allows any individual to file a criminal complaint, while Article 258 addresses the crime of destroying public documents.
• Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe denied involvement in the scandal, stating in 2017 that he would resign if proven otherwise.
• Akagi’s widow, Masako, expressed relief at the return of her late husband’s notes after eight years.
• The Ministry of Finance aims to complete the disclosure of key documents by March 2026.
Summary
The Moritomo Gakuen scandal resurfaced as Japan’s Ministry of Finance disclosed 9,000 pages of documents, including the late Toshio Akagi’s handwritten notes. Akagi, a finance official who died by suicide after being ordered to falsify documents, criticized the 8 billion yen discount on state land in his notes. He also referenced legal provisions on public accountability and document destruction. The scandal, which implicated political figures including former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, raised questions about political interference. Akagi’s widow, Masako, welcomed the return of her husband’s notes after eight years. The Ministry plans to conclude document disclosures by March 2026.
