Abe's wife resigns from honorary position

TOKYO - Japan's first lady has resigned as "honorary principal" of a private elementary school run by a man with ultranationalistic views following an escalating controversy over the low price the school paid for government land.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told Friday's parliamentary session that his wife Akie had resigned from the role.

The prime minister's confirmation came a day after an endorsement of the school from his wife was removed from its website. Abe has said he was aware that Akie served in an honorary position for the school, whose president is a passionate supporter of the prime minister's views.

The Osaka property was sold in 2016 for $1.2 million, one-seventh of its appraised price. Abe has denied he or his wife had any influence over the land deal.

The same school operator runs a kindergarten with a curriculum said to resemble that of pre-World War II Japan. It plans a similar approach for the new elementary school, which is set to open in April, pending final approval by Osaka prefecture.

The scandal has dominated parliamentary debate, with opposition lawmakers summoning finance and education ministry officials to clarify how the school obtained the large discount.

Opposition Democratic Party lawmaker Masato Imai told reporters the land deal must be scrutinized further because it involves taxpayers' money.

"As honorary principal, Mrs Akie Abe has served as a billboard for the school with various problems. We believe she bears a responsibility at least indirectly, if not directly.," said Imai.

Akie Abe agreed to become honorary principal of the elementary school after her 2015 visit to the kindergarten run by Yasunori Kagoike.

Television footage from her visit shows her telling the children's' parents: "My husband also thinks that education policy here is excellent."

In a message posted on the school website, she wrote she was deeply impressed with Kagoike's "passion for education" and that the school's moral education fosters Japanese pride and strong principles among children.

The message and her photo, which were on the website on Wednesday, were no longer posted on Thursday.

The school and Kagoike have also drawn attention over a note distributed to parents of the children, criticizing Koreans and Chinese. That prompted Osaka prefectural officials to question the school, which later apologized. A similar statement was also posted on the kindergarten website.

Ap - Xinhua