Conflict of interest

July 13, 2016

NHK Board of Governors chair admits conservative lobby group, nuke power connections

http://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20160713/p2a/00m/0na/002000c

NHK Board of Governors Chairman Susumu Ishihara is seen at a news conference on June 28, 2016, in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward. (Mainichi)

NHK Board of Governors Chairman Susumu Ishihara said on July 12 that he needs to re-evaluate his outside commitments after admitting prominent roles in both a conservative group pushing for constitutional revision and a pro-nuclear power lobby.

Ishihara admitted to reporters after the public broadcaster's Board of Governors meeting that day that he is an honorary adviser to the Fukuoka chapter of the Nippon Kaigi (Japan Conference) conservative lobby group and also co-leader of the National Nuclear Union, an association for the promotion of nuclear power.

"If I look at the situation in its entirety, I can see that I need to re-evaluate things," Ishihara said in response to a reporter's question.

NHK President Katsuto Momii's term ends in January next year, and Ishihara also revealed that the Board of Governors would establish a committee at its next meeting on July 26 to nominate potential successors to head the public broadcaster.