“No conflict with ministerial norms” that allows dinner with the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications, NTT presidents

Regarding the report of "Weekly Bunshun" that Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Takeda was having dinner with NTT President Sawada and others, after acknowledging the fact of the dinner at the General Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives, "I have not received a request for specific permission etc. It was not a dinner that violated the ministerial norms. "

"Weekly Bunshun" released on the 18th reported that Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Takeda had a dinner with President Sawada of NTT and Honorary Chairman Kasai of JR Central last November.

Minister Takeda said at the General Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives, "It is true that I was present at the dinner with Honorary Chairman Kasai. Mr. Kasai called out and did not know other attendees until the day. I received only the chairman and paid 10,000 yen as an expense. "

He emphasized, "I have never received any requests or requests from attendees regarding specific permits, etc., and I think it was not a dinner that violated the ministerial norms."

It was also pointed out that "at the time of the dinner, NTT was conducting a takeover bid for TOB = shares to make NTT DoCoMo a wholly owned subsidiary, and it may have been a dinner that made the public suspicious." In response, Minister Takeda said, "To make NTT DoCoMo a wholly owned subsidiary is not legally required to be approved by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, but can be implemented at NTT's management decision."

NTT "No facts requested for business at the dinner party"

Regarding the report of "Weekly Bunshun" that President Sawada and others were having dinner with Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Takeda, NTT acknowledged the fact of the dinner and said that "the dinner was planned by the private sector for discussions related to space. I understand. Although Minister Takeda was also present, there was no fact that NTT had called Minister Takeda, and there was no fact that NTT had made a business request at the dinner party. "