The National Public Service Ethics Code sets clear expectations for ministry life in hope of preventing the kind of conflicts of interest in which Suga's eldest son has been implicated.
The logo of the Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. (Toshio Tada)
Telecommunications ministry officials once again find themselves investigating possible ethics violations after news surfaced that more policy makers were wined and dined by industry players, this time by the telecommunications giant NTT group.
When the government disciplined 11 ministry bureaucrats on Feb. 24 for being treated to expensive meals by a satellite channel broadcaster, ministry officials believed there were no other cases of bureaucrats being entertained by companies that the ministry oversees.
But then on March 4, Yasuhiko Taniwaki, vice minister for policy coordination at the telecommunications ministry, admitted in the Diet to being treated by Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. executives, and that a new investigation was needed to look into possible rule violations.
Editorial: Ethics scandal in Japan s comms ministry highlights need to reform cozy ties
March 5, 2021 (Mainichi Japan) New suspicions that officials from Japan s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications were treated to expensive meals by figures in the communications industry have come to light. It has emerged that officials including Yasuhiko Taniwaki, vice minister for policy coordination at the ministry, dined with figures including the president of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. (NTT) with some meal expenses covered. NTT s business and other projects are certified by the communications minister, and it is possible ministry officials violated the National Public Service Ethics Code, which prohibits officials from receiving entertainment from interested parties. The ministry has launched an investigation into the allegations.