And now, today's scandal report. Satoshi?

I am having a hard time keeping abreast of the Abe government's achievements. I am too busy dodging the wheels as they keep flying off.

Reform minister's political organization accused of submitting false reports
Mainichi Online

A defunct political organization overseen by Administrative Reform Minister Genichiro Sata has come under suspicion of stating in official government reports that it paid 70 million yen to an office that in reality didn't exist.

The "Sata Genichiro Seiji Kenkyukai" organization, which was disbanded in October this year, reportedly told the former Ministry of Home Affairs in a report on political funds that it paid 70 million yen to the office between 1990 and 2000.

Speaking to reporters following a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Sata said, "I've instructed my local secretary to examine the matter thoroughly. I want to file a report once I know about the situation."

According to the government gazette and officials at Sato's office, the political organization was founded in 1990. The organization reported that it set up an office at the Tokyo branch of Sata Kensetsu, a construction company whose president was Sata's father, but in reality the office was not operating.

In spite of this, the organization reported to the Ministry of Home Affairs that it paid a total of about 70 million yen in rent and other costs to operate the office between 1990 and 2000. In one year, the payments reportedly totaled 14 million yen.

The organization was headed by an official from a company in Tokyo that was related to Sata Kensetsu, and a government-funded secretary was in charge of work at the office.

Oh, those construction companies! Always getting into mischief!

Prime Minister Abe is quoted as having asked Minister Sata to look into these allegations.

Good idea, Abe-san!

Just to make it absolutely clear how messed up things are for the residents of the Kantei right now, this revelation was the top story on the front page of the Sankei Shimbun.

The Sankei Shimbun, for Amaterasu's sake! The sworn enemy of the prime minister's values! The vanguard of the soft headed socialism and weak-willed pacificism!

Seriously, when you cannot get your fellow travelers to bury a story on page 3, you are in deep bat guano.