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To Appear in LDP Organ, Moves to Mend Ties
The April 21 issue of Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) organ "Jiyu Shimpo" will contain an apology over a previous series of articles that featured a supposed scandal involving Soka Gakkai Honorary President Daisaku Ikeda and a woman.
Jiyu Shimpo whose retraction by LDP Public Relations Headquarters Chief Kaoru Yosano concedes that the serial "clearly contained excessive statements and content...For this...we express our profound regret" will also publish a letter of protest issued by the Soka Gakkai in its entirety.
The decision is seen as a move to improve ties between the LDP and Soka Gakkai.
The serial, which appeared in the Jiyu Shimpo from January 1996 to October 1997, took up a lawsuit filed by a Hokkaido woman and former Soka Gakkai member who is seeking damages against Mr. Ikeda. A letter, which noted that the articles "contained many instances of what must be termed a greviously libelous nature," was delivered through Soka Gakkai lawyers to LDP Secretary General Koichi Kato on April 13. The letter also insisted upon a full retraction.
In response, Mr. Yosano's apology admitted that "from a legal perspective, the various points indicated in your letter...could be the cause of legal difficulties in the future." Moreover, he expressed contrition because the ruling party "failed to conduct an adequate investigation of the facts and focused solely on the assertions of one of the parties to the dispute... [and] acknowledge the inappropriateness of having, in effect, permitted the spreading of falsehoods."
At the Headquarters Leaders Meeting held at the Makiguchi Memorial Hall in Hachioji City on April 20, Soka Gakkai President Einosuke Akiya, upon introducing Mr. Yosano's apology, declared: "The LDP has finally expressed its regret over the affair. That they should do so is obvious." Mr. Akiya's speech was broadcast via satellite to Soka Gakkai chapters across the nation.
With the LDP having compromised over this issue which has been the focus of intense protest by the Soka Gakkai and seen to be the largest single obstacle to their reconciliation it could help spur closer cooperation between the ruling party and parliamentarians of the former Komei Party, which the Soka Gakkai has supported.
Nihon Keizai Shimbun, April 21, 1998
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