Isao Kurauchi, the 72-year-old former speaker of the Fukuoka prefectural assembly who resigned his seat in August, appeared in public for the first time in about two and a half months on November 5 and held a press conference.
He faced questions over a series of issues including allegations that he received money. The conference ran for about 1 hour and 40 minutes, according to a segment on the program Hodo Wide Kisha no Chikara broadcast the same day.
One reporter per company, and no footage until it ended
Kurauchi's office organized the conference. In consideration of his health it was set to run about 90 minutes, attendance was limited to reporters from companies in the press club, and each company could send only one reporter to ask questions. Broadcast and streaming of the question-and-answer portion were barred until the conference ended.
The press club negotiated with Kurauchi's side until just before the event, but the conditions stood. Journalist Tetsuo Suzuki said the restrictions were understandable for a private citizen but did not fit the case.
“Given Kurauchi's position until now and the size of the problem, in a sense he can still be called a public figure.”Tetsuo Suzuki, journalist
Suzuki said Kurauchi should have taken as much time as possible to answer questions and should have opened the conference to freelancers as well as press club members.
Denial and a new detail on expenses
On the central allegation, Kurauchi said at the outset that he had never received money in connection with assembly personnel decisions. On the cost of golf outings and dinners, he said he had taken part believing the bills were split. He added a new point: that the person handling accounts at the time had processed the payments properly.
Asked whether he had objective evidence to overturn testimony by former assembly member Shinmura, who has said he handed Kurauchi 5 million yen in cash, Kurauchi said he did not.
“It was 15 years ago, so it does not readily come out. I want to look into it properly.”Isao Kurauchi
Asked whether his explanation would satisfy prefectural residents, he said he was speaking from his own convictions and did not know how they would judge him. He repeatedly said a third-party committee would investigate.
Suzuki said the question now is whether evidence emerges, and that the burden of proof has shifted to Kurauchi's side.