Japan's former Economy and Trade Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura speaks during a political ethics committee at parliament in Tokyo Friday, March 1, 2024. Two former Cabinet ministers belonging to Japan’s governing party’s key faction behind a major corruption scandal that has rocked the government renewed denial they had any role in running slush funds at a political ethics hearing Friday, a day after Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s appearance that gave no new details, deepening speculation that the party just wants to get it over with and rush the passage of a budget bill. (Japan Pool/Kyodo News via AP)
Japan's former Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno attends a political ethics committee at parliament in Tokyo Friday, March 1, 2024. Two former Cabinet ministers belonging to Japan’s governing party’s key faction behind a major corruption scandal that has rocked the government renewed denial they had any role in running slush funds at a political ethics hearing Friday, a day after Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s appearance that gave no new details, deepening speculation that the party just wants to get it over with and rush the passage of a budget bill. (Japan Pool/Kyodo News via AP)
Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida waits for the start of a budget committee's meeting in Tokyo Friday, March 1, 2024. Two former Cabinet ministers belonging to Japan’s governing party’s key faction behind a major corruption scandal that has rocked the government renewed denial they had any role in running slush funds at a political ethics hearing Friday, a day after Kishida’s appearance that gave no new details, deepening speculation that the party just wants to get it over with and rush the passage of a budget bill. (Kyodo News via AP)
Japan's former Economy and Trade Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura listens to a question during a political ethics committee at parliament in Tokyo Friday, March 1, 2024. Two former Cabinet ministers belonging to Japan’s governing party’s key faction behind a major corruption scandal that has rocked the government renewed denial they had any role in running slush funds at a political ethics hearing Friday, a day after Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s appearance that gave no new details, deepening speculation that the party just wants to get it over with and rush the passage of a budget bill. (Japan Pool/Kyodo News via AP)
Japan's former Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno speaks during a political ethics committee at parliament in Tokyo Friday, March 1, 2024. Two former Cabinet ministers belonging to Japan’s governing party’s key faction behind a major corruption scandal that has rocked the government renewed denial they had any role in running slush funds at a political ethics hearing Friday, a day after Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s appearance that gave no new details, deepening speculation that the party just wants to get it over with and rush the passage of a budget bill. (Japan Pool/Kyodo News via AP)