First lady Akie Abe was honorary principal of the elementary school for several months until she resigned two weeks after the scandal erupted in early February. In a statement on Facebook, Akie Abe also denied making the donation or influencing the land deal. Kagoike told parliament he believed there was "political influence" in his land purchase and plans to open an elementary school. "I believe there was political influence one way or the other at every occasion and place (during the approval process)," he said, without elaborating. He urged lawmakers to question Akie Abe, her assistant and finance ministry bureaucrats to clarify their involvement in the land purchase.

Source: ABC News March 23, 2017 04:58 UTC