Japan's leader apologizes for donation scandal (case of overbearing mom?)

WP ^ | 12/01/09 | Blaine Harden

[TigerLikesRooster]

Japan's leader apologizes for donation scandal

PROBE DOGS PRIME MINISTER

Family linked to fake campaign contributions

By Blaine Harden

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

TOKYO -- For politicians in Japan, the road to scandal usually winds through construction companies, defense contractors or a mistress. For newly elected Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, the road leads to his mother, an octogenarian heiress.

Prosecutors have traced about $10.4 million that Yasuko Hatoyama, 87, gave to her son over a five-year period ending in 2008, sources in the investigation have told major news outlets in Japan. Some of that money was reportedly funneled into fake campaign donations, listed as coming from dead people or from people who never contributed.

Hatoyama apologized Monday in parliament for the donations scandal, but suggested that he will remain prime minister unless he is prosecuted.

"In light of the decision to be made by law enforcement authorities, I would like to fulfill my duties," he said. "If there were any contributions by my mother, I will take appropriate action according to the law."

The investigation is hurting Hatoyama's credibility with the public, although so far it has found no evidence showing his direct involvement in illegal activity. Hatoyama's mother might soon be questioned by prosecutors, but she has not been named as a suspect.

/snip

Their mother, Yasuko, is the eldest daughter of the founder of Bridgestone Corp., the world's largest tire manufacturer.

/snip

[TigerLikesRooster]

Hatoyama' grandpa and Bridgestone founder decided to have a marriage alliance. The son of the former and the daughter of the latter married. They have been behind the major political wheeling and dealings for decades.

Apparently, Bridgestone heiress found her husband not living up to her expectation. He managed to be a foreign minister at one time, but she dismissed him as 'a third rate.' Since then, she was determined to make one of her sons the PM of Japan. By all accounts, she succeeded, but it turns out she ended up creating a baggage for her son.

By the way, I wonder how scheming and ambitious mother like her allowed her son to marry fruit-cake hippie type woman.

In her Youth

PM Hatoyama(right), Yasuko Hatoyama(mother: center,) PM's brother(left)

[TigerLikesRooster]

Ping!

[AmericanInTokyo]

mother like her allowed her son to marry fruit-cake hippie type woman.

LOL! **I'll** say! What an absolute DINGBAT! Twilight Zone material.

[TigerLikesRooster]

That would be the first question I would ask her if I ever meet her(no chance of it ever happening as far as I know.:-))

[Cicero]

I don’t know what the tax laws are in Japan, but if this happened in the U.S., I suspect he would owe the IRS some whopping back taxes.