Current location:style >>
VOX POPULI: LDP’s Nikai’s ‘expenditures’ on books must make libraries weep
style32583People have gathered around
IntroductionI read many books every day because of my job but also because reading is my hobby.Since I cannot bu ...
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.
Tags:
Reprint:Friends are welcome to share on the Internet, but please indicate the source of the article when reprinting it.“Culture Circuit news portal”。http://ukraine.mybodyonelife.com/news-60d799930.html
Related articles
Former Italian foreign minister convicted for role in sale of Monte Carlo apartment
styleMILAN (AP) — A former Italian foreign minister has been convicted and sentenced to two years and eig ...
【style】
Read moreTrump asks appeals court to overturn ruling on Georgia prosecutor
styleThe Georgia case is one of four that Donald Trump is facing. Photo: AFP / Getty Images / Pool ...
【style】
Read moreBuilders hope Resource Management Act change will speed up papakāinga developments
stylePapakāinga housing on Atareta Steet built by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei. Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly ...
【style】
Read more
Popular articles
- Terms for Mike Tyson's fight with Jake Paul include heavier gloves, shorter rounds
- Truth Social: Trump's DJT stock plummets days after going public
- Chris Hipkins says sick children shouldn't be at school
- New Zealand being considered as potential AUKUS Pillar Two partner
- Blow to Rishi Sunak's hopes for returning more small
- FBI fears 'coordinated attack' on US homeland
Latest articles
Climate change could virtually disappear in Florida — at least according to state law
Israel Gaza: Journalists injured in al
Dealing with fast spreading pest hits new milestone for Otago Regional Council
HK indie music collective Un.Tomorrow seeks community, history
North Carolina shootout that killed 4 law officers began as task force tried to serve a warrant
Baltimore bridge collapses after being struck by ship, six presumed dead
LINKS
- Zheng Qinwen stopped in U.S. Open quarterfinals, Wang Xinyu into doubles semis
- Chess Preview: China's world champion Ding seeking first Asian Games gold
- Top 10 earners of 2023 all domestic films, Hollywood's appeal weakening
- China's Zhou to continue in F1 in 2024
- 30 days to go, anticipation for impending Hangzhou Asian Games runs high across Asia
- Futuristic scene of robots taking over backbreaking farm jobs on horizon
- Former WWE star 'Shooter' Tony Jones dead at 53 as tributes pour in to 'a true legend'
- China issues stamps featuring UNESCO site Pingyao ancient city
- Canton Fair opens in China with surge in overseas purchasers
- Removing barriers good for US, China