Missing paperwork clouds probe of former farm minister's road-budget pressure

Kazuo Yana, recently dismissed as farm minister by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, faced criticism for suggesting road-budget cuts in municipalities that opposed him in a prior election. An investigation by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism revealed that no official documents record Yana’s February meeting with secretariat head Masayoshi Kuroda about funding for two Tochigi municipalities. The ministry justified the omission by classifying the request as a minor matter under the Public Records and Archives Management Act.

However, scholars such as Masahiro Uzaki contend that a face-to-face request concerning budget allocations is significant and warrants documentation. Kuroda claimed he kept no detailed notes and felt no pressure was applied. The episode raises questions about the ministry’s commitment to transparency and accountability.