Ryota Takeda, the telecommunications minister, enters the prime minister’s official residence on May 25 for a Cabinet meeting. (Koichi Ueda)
A report released May 24 casts doubt on the contention by telecommunications ministry officials that they did not recall being told about a legal violation concerning foreign share ownership of a satellite broadcasting company.
An investigative panel set up by the company looked into the wining and dining of telecommunications ministry officials by executives of Tohokushinsha Film Corp., an operator of satellite broadcasting and other services.
Thirteen ministry officials were treated to lavish meals on 54 occasions, the panel s report said.
Twenty of the meals were not included in a report that the telecommunications ministry released in February about wining and dining by Tohokushinsha.