Toshiaki Endo (original) (raw)

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Japanese politician

Toshiaki Endō in 2023

Toshiaki Endo (遠藤 利明, Endō Toshiaki, born 1950) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature).

Endo is a native of Kaminoyama, Yamagata and graduate of Chuo University (where he played Rugby).

Endo was elected to the assembly of Yamagata Prefecture in 1983, serving there for one term. In 1993 he was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time as an independent after an unsuccessful run in 1990. He headed an overhaul of Japan's English language education. In 2015 he was appointed to oversee the 2020 Summer Olympics preparations on behalf of the Japanese government.[1]

In February 2016 it emerged that he had received ¥9.5 million over five years in donations from the head of an unnamed Tokyo-based teacher dispatch company[2] as the company was trying to boost the use of Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs) across Japan. It was alleged that due to the donations Endo lobbied for greater use of ALTs and supported a project the company was pushing. Staff of the company spoke about how they appreciated Endo's efforts.[3]

Endo admitted the donations and expanding the use of ALTs but claimed that he had done nothing wrong.[4] Prime Minister Abe defended Endo and said "“My administration would never let cash affect its policies”.[5]

1. ^ Toshiaki Endo appointed Olympics minister June 25, 2015 Japan Times Retrieved February 5, 2016
2. ^ Olympics minister tied to 9 million yen in donations from founder of ALT staffing agency February 4, 2016 Mainichi Shimbun Retrieved February 5, 2016
3. ^ Execs of staffing agency appreciate Olympic minister's efforts to promote use of ALTs February 4, 2016 Mainichi Shimbun Retrieved February 5, 2016
4. ^ Olympics minister admits proposing expanded use of assistant language teachers February 4, 2016 Mainichi Shimbun Retrieved February 5, 2016
5. ^ Osaki, Tomohiro Olympics minister denies cash-for-favors allegation involving English teacher dispatch agency February 4, 2016 Japan Times Retrieved January 5, 2016

• 政治家情報 〜遠藤 利明〜. ザ･選挙 (in Japanese). JANJAN. Archived from the original on December 3, 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-20.
• Official website in Japanese.