Japan’s Foreign Minister Tsuyoshi Iwaya Attends U.S. Inauguration Amid China Bribery Allegations

On January 20, Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya (67) was invited to the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump (78).

It is customary for the Japanese Ambassador to the U.S. to attend the inauguration, so it is unusual for the Foreign Minister to attend.

In response to this news, Professor Yoichi Takahashi of Keio University posted on X:

“This is good news.”

In response to this news.

The possibility of not being able to visit the U.S.

However, this does not seem to mean it is an honor to be invited in the literal sense.

This is because, on November 30 of last year, Takahashi Yoichi, a professor at Keio University, revealed during the broadcast of Oshiete! News Live: Seigi no Mikata (Asahi Broadcasting, Kansai local) that Foreign Minister Iwaya is under suspicion of receiving bribes from a Chinese company.

“There is a possibility that he may not be able to go to America.”

He disclosed live on air.

The U.S. Department of Justice indicted the CEO of the Chinese company ‘500.com’ (now Bit Mining) for violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in relation to Japan’s IR business. This CEO testified that he had given cash to five lawmakers, including former House of Representatives member Tsukasa Akimoto, who was sentenced to prison. Foreign Minister Iwaya is suspected to be one of the lawmakers involved.