[HIGHLIGHTS] Ritmin member Mamoru Umetani offers sake to voters at a meeting “as compensation”

Ritmin member Mamoru Umetani offers sake to voters at a meeting “as compensation”. The Public Offices Election Act prohibits politicians from donating money or goods to voters.

According to the Prefectural Election Commission, giving donations at events may also violate the law. A member of the neighborhood association who was given the sake by Councilor U metani told NHK, ``I thought it might be a violation of the law" "I couldn't refuse out of politeness, so I accepted it as an offering to God and decided not to open it,'' he said.