The logo of the Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. (Toshio Tada)
Telecommunications ministry officials once again find themselves investigating possible ethics violations after news surfaced that more policy makers were wined and dined by industry players, this time by the telecommunications giant NTT group.
When the government disciplined 11 ministry bureaucrats on Feb. 24 for being treated to expensive meals by a satellite channel broadcaster, ministry officials believed there were no other cases of bureaucrats being entertained by companies that the ministry oversees.
But then on March 4, Yasuhiko Taniwaki, vice minister for policy coordination at the telecommunications ministry, admitted in the Diet to being treated by Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. executives, and that a new investigation was needed to look into possible rule violations.