Amari's weighty responsibilities include carrying out Abenomics, the prime minister's plan for economic recovery, and serving as his point man for the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement. Japan's Economy and Fiscal Minister Akira Amari speaks during a session of the Audit Committee at the upper house of Parliament in Tokyo Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016. Opposition lawmakers pressed him to make an immediate clarification, causing an hour-long delay to the start of a parliamentary policy speech by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Concerning the magazine's claim that his secretaries received cash from the construction company, Amari only said: "I learned of this for the first time from a press report". Members of the DPJ and some other parties walked out before Amari started delivering a speech at the House of Representatives. Amari denied directing anyone to give preferential treatment to the construction company, which is located in Chiba Prefecture, near the capital. The summary did not indicate whether the magazine had obtained Amari's response to the allegation. This crime is punishable by up to five years in prison. If Amari were found guilty of accepting the money, about $148,000, he would be found in violation of Japan's anti-graft laws. "I will have a necessary investigation conducted thoroughly, confirm what happened and fulfill my duty to give an explanation at an appropriate time so that the public won't have any doubt", Amari said at the start of his speech. The payments amounted to 12 million yen ($103,000), the magazine said, adding that there are no details of the payments in Amari's political funding record. But opposition lawmakers appear intent on pressing the issue. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe described South Korea on Friday as his country's "most important neighbor that shares strategic interests", an expression reflecting the mood of improved bilateral ties. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, the government's top spokesman, told a separate news conference on January 22 that Amari would depart as scheduled early on January 23 for the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. "Obviously [the Abe government] is going to defend him". Share with Us - We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article, and smart, constructive criticism. Not only is Amari's cabinet seat on the line, but also his "position as a lawmaker", senior DPJ lawmaker Renho said.

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