The Japan TimesTuesday, Nov. 27, 2007
Kyodo News
Former Vice Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya effectively admitted in an interview to receiving ¥200,000 in cash from recently arrested defense equipment trader Motonobu Miyazaki in celebration of his 60th birthday about three years ago when he was still in his post.
Photo: Former vice Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya is interviewed Friday at his home in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo.But Moriya, 63, reiterated he never granted special favors to Miyazaki-linked defense equipment trading houses — Yamada Corp. and Nihon Mirise Corp. — while suggesting he is ready to be questioned by prosecutors on allegations that he was bribed by Miyazaki.
Moriya spoke Friday in his first media interview since he gave sworn testimony in the House of Representatives on Oct. 29 and in the House of Councilors on Nov. 15 on his cozy ties with Miyazaki, and the various perks provided by the latter.
Moriya nodded when asked about receiving ¥200,000 in cash from Miyazaki when the 59-year-old businessman congratulated the then top defense bureaucrat on becoming 60 in return for Moriya's doing likewise when Miyazaki turned 60.
Giving a nod, Moriya said: "It's that I organized a party to celebrate Mr. Miyazaki's turning 60 at my place." Celebrating a 60th birthday is a popular custom under the Chinese zodiac calendar.
The interview took place at Moriya's home in Tokyo at a time when the prosecutors, who arrested Miyazaki on Nov. 8, are believed to be trying to establish a bribery case against Moriya.
"I'm tired. Now I'm in a situation where I have no choice. It would be better for the prosecutors to come soon (for questioning)," Moriya said.
Flatly denying he gave favors to Yamada and Nihon Mirise, Moriya said: "I've never done such things."
Miyazaki is a former Yamada executive who left due to conflicts with the owners and established Nihon Mirise. He recently resigned as Nihon Mirise president.
Moriya is suspected of specially favoring the two firms, including using them as procurement agents for General Electric Co.-made engines for the Air Self-Defense Force's next generation CX transport jet and Yamada's padding of bills for helicopter radar-jamming equipment. Earlier reports said that after Miyazaki founded Nihon Mirise, the firm acquired the GE business previously handled by Yamada.
"I wouldn't have associated with Mr. Miyazaki if he had made any special requests" to favor his companies, Moriya said.
He said prosecutors may have misunderstood how the Defense Ministry procures equipment, saying, "The prosecutors may believe the vice minister has final say in the decision of equipment for the Self-Defense Forces. But in fact, SDF units do."
In recent Diet testimony, Yamada President Yoshihiko Yonezu said Moriya and Miyazaki played golf more than 300 times in eight years through 2006 and the total amount of fees Miyazaki covered for Moriya exceeded ¥15 million.
Moriya also admitted in his Diet testimony to frequently golfing with Miyazaki and being wined and dined in violation of the ministry's in-house ethics code.
The prosecutors arrested Miyazaki on suspicion of embezzling ¥117 million from Yamada through its U.S. arm, Yamada International Corp., between September 2006 and last January.
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