Yoshiro Mori’s Lavish Hotel Dining with Average Spending Over 20,000 Yen

Mr. Mori and the others left the restaurant about three hours later, after 9:00 PM. Accompanied by the doorman’s farewell, the chauffeured car, with Mr. Mori on board, headed towards the elderly care facility in Tokyo where he resides.

“The elderly care facility where Mr. Mori resides has a high-end room that costs approximately 220 million yen for the entrance fee alone. If a couple were to move in, the expenses would be over 600,000 yen per month for this upscale facility. The building is equipped with amenities such as a bar and a simulation golf room. Mr. Mori seems to be in good health even after moving in, often going out for dinners in the evenings,” mentioned a source familiar with the situation in Nagatacho.

Then, on January 16, the special investigators finally made their move. Finally, on January 16, the Special Investigation Department made its move. On January 16, the Special Investigation Department finally decided not to prosecute seven Abe Faction officials, including former Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu (61), former METI Minister Nishimura Yasutoshi (61), and former party policy chief Kōichi Hagiuda (60), who had been accused of violating the Political Funds Control Law.

 

“However, this doesn’t mark the end of the matter. Just recently, Professor Hiroyuki Kamiwaki, from Kobe Gakuin University sent a criminal complaint to the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office against Mr. Mori and 12 other key members of the Abe faction. This issue is expected to continue for a while,” stated a national newspaper political desk editor.

Regarding the future of Mr. Mori and the members of the Abe faction, journalist Tetsuo Suzuki says the following.

“Some members of the ‘Goninshu’ (Five-person group) are saying, ‘It’s a relief that the investigation is over. Liberated from the tense everyday life.’ However, it is believed that they won’t regain power in the Kishida administration. Moreover, elections themselves are becoming challenging, and there’s a risk of losing in the single-member districts. On the other hand, Mr. Mori’s influence, with the ability to control money and positions, is unlikely to change for the time being,” according to journalist Tetsuo Suzuki.

When attempting to inquire about the non-indictment of the seven key members of the Abe faction, and calling Mr. Mori’s mobile phone, he responded in a stern voice.

“I am not answering any inquiries at all. Besides, isn’t it rude to call by phone in the first place?”

In the series of corruption scandals surrounding the Tokyo Olympics, Mr. Mori’s name was reported to have come up in the investigation, but he was not held accountable. Will Mr. Mori manage to escape responsibility once again this time?

From “FRIDAY” February 2 and 9, 2024