Fukuoka Governor Seitaro Hattori told the prefectural assembly on June 17 that he could not recall whether he had been involved in the organized purchase of political fundraising party tickets while serving as a prefectural official. The issue centers on the Bukacho-kai, a group of section chief-level and higher officials that reportedly used membership fees to subsidize bulk purchases of tickets for political events hosted by the prefectural assembly speaker and others, a practice said to have continued for more than a decade. Hattori said he had attended a celebration for a former assembly speaker and paid the participation fee himself but did not remember whether he had received financial support from the group. He also said the prefecture would continue responding to the matter with legal advice rather than establishing an independent third-party investigation panel. Source: NHK News / TNC News
Photo: NHK News
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