Despite the fact that the satellite broadcasting affiliate "Tohoku Shinsha", which was entertaining executives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, violated the foreign capital regulation of the Broadcasting Law four years ago, it made a false application and made a satellite broadcasting business. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications has decided to dispose of it, and is considering how to handle the business inherited by the subsidiary.
The satellite broadcasting business requires certification from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, and companies that receive certification are required to have a foreign capital ratio of less than 20% of voting shares under the Broadcasting Law.
However, in October 2017, the satellite broadcasting-related company "Tohokushinsha," where the eldest son of Prime Minister Suga worked and was entertaining executives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, was in a state of violating the law with a foreign capital ratio exceeding 20%. Nevertheless, it became clear that the business had been inherited by a subsidiary, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications was investigating the circumstances.
According to the people concerned, as a result of the survey, it was found that the foreign capital ratio had already exceeded 20% when Tohokushinsha was certified as a business in January 2017 before the business succession.
At that time, Tohokushinsha filed an application that was different from the fact that the foreign capital ratio was less than 20%, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, which examined it, could not see it and was certified.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications has decided to dispose of Tohokushinsha as it was not qualified to be certified as a satellite broadcasting business, and is considering how to handle the business inherited by its subsidiaries.