In Japan, Right-Wing School Scandal Entangles 2 Women Close to Abe<br />ve My Own Life," Mrs. Abe said she supported her husband’s efforts to create a society in which "women can shine," writing<br />that "women don’t need to work just like men do." The Japanese news media sometimes describes Mrs. Abe as the prime minister’s "at-home opposition party," because she has expressed more progressive views on issues like lesbian and gay rights and nuclear power in addition to supporting women’s causes. that I Li<br />Last week, the leader of the group said Mrs. Abe gave him an envelope of cash two years<br />ago as a donation from the prime minister, a claim Mr. Abe has vociferously denied.<br />But an unrelenting scandal over allegations that a right-wing education group received improper political favors has ensnared<br />two of the most prominent women in Mr. Abe’s life: his wife, Akie Abe, and his defense minister, Tomomi Inada.<br />In response to questions for Mrs. Abe, the office of the prime minister referred to his comments in Parliament on Friday, when he defended his wife, saying<br />that she had never given money to the school group and that neither of them was involved in selling public land to the proposed school.<br />In Parliament last week, Mr. Abe defended Ms. Inada, saying he wanted her to "continue to perform<br />her duties with sincerity." For now, critics say Ms. Inada may survive the scandal.<br />Ms. Inada, Japan’s second female defense minister, whom Mr. Abe has been grooming to be his successor, is fighting calls for her resignation after she retracted a statement<br />that she had never represented the school group in a lawsuit.
