Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Saito indicated that he intends to investigate the facts of a former vice-minister of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism who met with the executives of an airport facility operator last year and requested that an alumnus of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism be appointed as the next president.
According to the company, 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 president of the next executive appointment.
In addition to explaining that he was "a representative of an alumnus," he also said, "If the vice president takes office, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism will support him."
On the other hand, former Vice-Minister Honda said in an interview, "I have never asked the authority or authority of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism to be superfluous, but if I have caused a misunderstanding, I must reflect on the immorality."
At a press conference after the Cabinet meeting on March 12, Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Saito stated, "The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is not involved in any way," and stated, "If the reports are true, it could lead to misunderstandings that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is involved, and it is extremely regrettable."
Minister Saito then stated, "We will confirm the facts of what kind of remarks were made in the future," and indicated his intention to investigate the facts.