Ichiro Ozawa

In the separate case concerning financial declarations linked to Rikuzankai's land purchase and approximately 400 million yen advanced by Ozawa, three former secretaries were found guilty of false declarations. Prosecutors had initially declined to prosecute Ozawa himself, but a citizens' review panel required an indictment. The Tokyo court ultimately acquitted him, finding insufficient evidence that he had conspired with his assistants.

State of the evidence

Criminal trial documented

Legal status — source text

Ozawa acquitted at first instance in April 2012; acquittal upheld on appeal

Attribution

Personal responsibility alleged but not upheld in criminal proceedings

Ozawa and dozens of lawmakers from his faction voted against Prime Minister Noda's proposed consumption tax increase. Around fifty parliamentarians subsequently resigned from the DPJ, triggering a major split in the governing party. Ozawa founded "Kokumin no Seikatsu ga Daiichi" (People's Life First).

State of the evidence

Dissenting vote, collective departure and party formation documented

Legal status — source text

Internal sanction: expulsion of numerous dissidents; no legal proceedings

Attribution

Direct political responsibility

In March 2009, Ozawa's chief secretary Takanori Okubo, also the accounting officer for Rikuzankai, was arrested and then charged over declarations of donations originating from organisations prosecutors considered to be fronts for Nishimatsu Construction. Ozawa initially resisted calls to resign but eventually stepped down as DPJ president in May, just months before a crucial national election.

State of the evidence

Secretary's arrest and charges documented; donations through entities linked to Nishimatsu examined

Legal status — source text

Secretary Takanori Okubo charged; no personal criminal conviction of Ozawa established in this case

Attribution

Political responsibility as head of an organisation receiving the funds; personal criminal involvement not established

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist not prosecuted

In December 2009, the Hatoyama government secured an audience with Emperor Akihito for Chinese Vice-President Xi Jinping despite the request arriving after the usual one-month protocol deadline. Ozawa, then DPJ Secretary-General, had asked the Prime Minister to facilitate the meeting and strongly criticised the head of the Imperial Household Agency, who warned of possible political use of the Emperor.

State of the evidence

Political intervention and departure from protocol documented

Legal status — source text

No criminal proceedings; constitutional and institutional controversy

Attribution

Direct political responsibility for defending the exception and publicly attacking the head of the Imperial Household Agency

Following meetings with Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, Ozawa presented the DPJ leadership with the idea of a grand coalition between the DPJ and LDP. The proposal prompted strong internal opposition, particularly as the DPJ had just won the Upper House elections by presenting itself as an alternative to the LDP. Ozawa announced his resignation as party president, then withdrew it several days later after being asked to remain.

State of the evidence

Negotiations, internal opposition and reversal documented

Legal status — source text

No legal proceedings

Attribution

Direct political responsibility as DPJ president

Amid a wave of scandals concerning politicians' pension contributions, Ozawa revealed that he had not been enrolled in the national pension scheme between April 1980 and March 1986. He withdrew from the contest to become DPJ leader, believing that he should accept political responsibility despite the absence of a legal obligation for part of that period.

State of the evidence

Periods without enrolment acknowledged

Legal status — source text

No illegality for the period when parliamentary enrolment was not compulsory

Attribution

Personal political responsibility, not an established offence