Last year, a former vice-minister of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism met with executives of an airport facility operator and asked them to appoint an alumnus of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism as the next president. The company said that it was told that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism would support it, and the former vice-minister said, "I have never asked the authority of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism to be superfluous, but if it leads to misunderstanding, it would be immoral."
According to people involved, former Vice Minister Masaru Honda, 69, of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, visited Airport Facilities, a company in Ota-ku, Tokyo, which operates airport facilities, in December last year, met with the president and chairman, and asked the vice president of this company, who was an executive of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, to be the next executive appointment of the company.
According to the company, he explained that he was "a representative of an alumnus" and also said that "if a vice president takes office, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism will support him."
In response, the company declined the request, saying, "It is necessary to follow processes such as the board of directors."
Toshiaki Noda, president of Airport Facilities Co., Ltd., said, "In the past, the president was an alumnus of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, so I understood that there was a strong desire to leave the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism again."
In an interview, former Vice-Minister Honda said, "I have never asked the authority or authority of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism to be superior, but if I have caused a misunderstanding, I must reflect on the immorality."
According to the Cabinet Office, the National Public Service Law prohibits ministries and agencies from mediating reemployment and current employees from requesting positions from interested companies, but there are no legal regulations on mediation by former employees.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has confirmed that no active employees are involved, and is not in a position to comment on the words and actions of OBs.
Chief Cabinet Secretary: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism: "I have heard that they are not involved."
Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno said at a press conference in the morning, "I am aware of the reports, but I would like to refrain from commenting from the government's standpoint on the appointment of executives at private companies, and I have heard from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism that they are not involved in this matter."