VOX POPULI: LDP’s Nikai’s ‘expenditures’ on books must make libraries weep
I read many books every day because of my job but also because reading is my hobby.
Since I cannot buy every book I want, nor do I have unlimited storage space, I only buy what I want to keep and rely on libraries for the rest.
I counted the books I borrowed from libraries last year. The number exceeded 1,000 volumes.
A political organization affiliated with Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Toshihiro Nikai recently revised his political funds revenue and expenditure report, adding a new expenditure titled “book purchases.”
I looked at the figure and could not believe my eyes: 34.72 million yen ($231,164) over three years.
This was a far bigger surprise than the results of an LDP survey of its legislators, which showed Nikai “outperforming” everyone else in his amount of unreported expenses.
I am sure nobody thought of Nikai as an avid reader who royally splurges on books.
Actually, the details of his purchases became available with the disclosure of receipts on Feb. 14.
The books came in 17 types, totaling about 28,000 copies. Several thousand volumes of each type were purchased, including books about him. Most of the volumes had been bought in bulk to be given away.
I imagined what libraries would do if they had that kind of budget to play with.
The Japan Library Association last year appealed in writing to the Cabinet ministers concerned that it was “unable to secure the materials that citizens need.”
The purchasing budget last year was 8.4 million yen per library, more than 5 million yen less than 23 years ago.
The amount Nikai spent would have taken care of four libraries.
The situation is difficult for school libraries, too.
One survey found that the average purchase amount per school in the last fiscal year was smaller than 10 years ago, and this applied to elementary, junior high and high schools.
As elementary schools each spent about 470,000 yen, on average, in the last fiscal year, Nikai could have paid for 74 schools.
In their revised expense reports, some LDP lawmakers chose “unknown” for their expenses and the recipients.
They refused to disclose not only the titles of books, but also how much they had spent and on what.
For treating the public with utter disrespect, they will someday be punished for certain.
--The Asahi Shimbun, Feb. 15
* *
*Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.
Related articles
- A loving pet owner sweetly recreated a 20-year old picture of him with his childhood cat before havi2024-05-07
Egyptian, Chinese students mark UN Chinese Language Day in Cairo
by Mahmoud FoulyCAIRO, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Students studying in Egyptian colleges celebrated Saturd2024-05-07- TORONTO (AP) — Michael Massey hit a two-run home run, Cole Ragans struck out nine in a season-high 62024-05-07
Eva Mendes gushes over 'my Cuban Papi' Ryan Gosling after he wears T
Eva Mendes showered affection on her longtime love Ryan Gosling after he wore a T-shirt plugging her2024-05-07James Corden appears in good spirits as he arrives with glamorous wife Julia Carey at the pre
James Corden and wife Julia Carey dressed to impress as they attended the pre-Met Gala dinner at Ann2024-05-07Brad Pitt's girlfriend Ines De Ramon takes a stroll with male pal in LA
Brad Pitt's girlfriend Ines De Ramon was spotted going on a stroll with a male pal on Monday.The jew2024-05-07
atest comment