Docs on new dept. for school operator headed by Abe's friend cite 'prime minister's will'

An opposition party lawmaker has revealed the existence of documents mentioning "the prime minister's will" in the backing of plans by an Okayama-based educational institution headed by one of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's friends to set up a new veterinary department in Japan for the first time in over 50 years.

The documents purportedly record information passed on to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology by the Cabinet Office. Their existence was disclosed by opposition Democratic Party lawmaker Yuichiro Tamaki during a meeting of the House of Representatives Committee on Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology on May 17.

The Okayama body, Kake Educational Institution, is poised to open a new veterinary department in one of the government's national strategic special economic zones in the Ehime Prefecture city of Imabari. The institution's director is a friend of Abe, and opposition parties have raised questions over favoritism. Abe has dismissed such suggestions, saying in the Diet, "Kake Educational Institution has never approached or pressured me."

One A4-sized document that the Mainichi Shimbun obtained from a source at the education ministry was titled "Message from the Cabinet Office relating to the establishment of a new veterinary department." It stated, "Working back from the premise of opening a new department in April of the 30th year of the Heisei era (2018), we would like you to formulate and share the shortest possible schedule." It also stated, "This is what the highest level of the prime minister's office is saying."

Another document, referring to the education minister, is titled "Cabinet Office's response to the minister's items for confirmation." It stated, "Regarding the setup process... we are working on the premise of 'regulatory reform over the shortest route,' and we have heard that this is the will of the prime minister." The same document stated, "If we present it as a decision of the advisory council on strategic special economic zones, it would appear as an order from the prime minister as he is head of the council. Looking toward opening the department in April of the 30th year of Heisei, it is necessary to bring the matter before the advisory council in early or mid-November."

Sources at the education ministry say the documents were created last year between September and October, and shared among some ministry officials.

There are 16 universities in Japan that offer veterinary study programs, and the government has restricted their number along with the designated number of students to maintain quality. The last time a veterinary department opened was in 1966, at Kitasato University's department in Aomori Prefecture.

In November last year, the government informally decided to allow a new veterinary department to be established for the first time in 52 years under a relaxing of regulations. In January 2017, the Cabinet Office and the education ministry jointly issued a notice that they would make an exception and allow one new school to be established. Kake Educational Institution alone applied, and discussions are proceeding within the Council for University Chartering and School Juridical Person.

In a news conference on the morning of May 17, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga responded to mention of "the prime minister's will" in one of the documents, stating, "There have been absolutely no orders from the prime minister," denying any involvement from Abe. Regarding the documents themselves, he stated, "I am not aware of them. It has not been made clear when they were made or which department made them. Normally there are no such documents in administrative institutions. The government does not respond point by point to things that aren't clear."