11/30/2007THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
Former Vice Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya kept detailed records of meetings and entertainment sessions in a diary, a book that could blow open a Defense Ministry scandal for which he was arrested, sources said.
The diary may reveal the names of politicians involved in shady defense deals, they said.
Moriya, 63, was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of taking bribes in the form of expensive golf outings from Motonobu Miyazaki, 69, a former executive of defense contractor Yamada Corp.
Moriya's wife, Sachiko, 56, and Miyazaki were also arrested in the bribery case.
The investigation is now shifting to whether politicians provided any favors for Yamada or other companies concerning defense contracts. Moriya's diary could prove a bombshell in the investigation.
For more than 10 years, he kept a minute diary in which he recorded not only visitors he received during work hours but also his meetings with company officials and politicians, according to Defense Ministry sources.
He also wrote down what went on during those meetings and sessions, they said.
During Moriya's testimony as a sworn witness in the Diet about his cozy ties with Miyazaki, he said he had attended wining and dining sessions with Miyazaki, former defense chief Fumio Kyuma and Finance Minister Fukushiro Nukaga, also a former defense chief.
Moriya likely reread his diary to refresh his memory before testifying in the Lower House special anti-terrorism measures committee on Oct. 29 and in the Upper House Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense on Nov. 15.
"I have seen him on many occasions entering (in his diary) whom he met," a ministry source said. "He likely went over it before the testimonies. Dates and names of the restaurants should be clear in the diary."
In his Nov. 15 testimony, Moriya said James Auer, then a senior Pentagon official in charge of Japan affairs, was present at the entertainment session with Miyazaki and Nukaga.
"I remember clearly that it was at a restaurant in Kanda, when Auer was visiting. Miyazaki came and, then Nukaga came and left first," Moriya said.
Opposition Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), whose lawmakers interviewed Moriya on the phone before his arrest and others, said the meeting took place on Dec. 4 last year at an expensive Japanese restaurant in Tokyo's Ningyocho district and that the participants included Nukaga, Moriya, Miyazaki and Auer.
Moriya also told Minshuto that Nukaga came late and that Moriya gave up his seat for the politician, the party said.
Nukaga has repeatedly denied having been at any entertainment session with Miyazaki.
Tadamori Oshima, the Liberal Democratic Party's Diet affairs chief, released photos Tuesday showing Nukaga at a hotel in Tokyo's Ginza, where he said Nukaga was having dinner with his family on Dec. 4.
Oshima said Nukaga later attended a study session on defense matters during the time Minshuto contends the entertainment session was taking place.
Nukaga has also said he has a tape recording of the study session.
The Diet was set to summon both Nukaga and Moriya to an Upper House committee on Monday to testify as sworn witnesses.
But with Moriya's arrest, Nukaga alone will face questions on his possible ties to defense contractors.
The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office, which arrested Moriya, plans to cooperate with the Diet by allowing lawmakers to visit Moriya for questioning, sources said.(IHT/Asahi: November 30,2007)
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