Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is seen responding to reporters' questions at the prime minister's office on Oct. 8, 2021, in Tokyo. (Mainichi/Kan Takeuchi)

       TOKYO -- Prime Minister Fumio Kishida indicated on Oct. 8 that he has read a letter written to him by the widow of Finance Ministry employee Toshio Akagi, who took his own life over a ministry document tampering scandal involving the sale of cut-price state land to nationalist school operator Moritomo Gakuen.

       Speaking about the letter concerning the deceased Kinki Local Finance Bureau employee, Kishida said, "I have read it. And I've taken it to heart." Regarding Masako Akagi's call in the letter for a renewed investigation into the document tampering, Kishida only went as far as saying: "At present a civil suit is underway. I have instructed the Ministry of Finance to respond in a civil manner under the court's direction over litigation proceedings."

       Kishida made the remarks in response to questions from a group of reporters at the prime minister's office.

       (Japanese original by Shiho Fujibuchi, Political News Department)

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