Summary of Minister Ibayashi's Press Conference
Overview
At Minister Ibayashi's press conference on October 27, 2026, questions covered chimney inspections following the Kumamoto earthquake, bid-rigging on the Linear Chuo Shinkansen, political fundraising parties, and records of inquiries related to Representative Yanagi. The minister described requests for emergency chimney repairs and the review of measures by an expert committee. He said the bid-rigging was regrettable and that he would monitor construction in the Shizuoka section. He said the political fundraising party had been prepared before his appointment and did not violate the ministerial code. He also said an inquiry about road project allocations did not affect administrative decisions and had been judged not to require a record.
Key points
- The chimney inspection results will be reported to the expert committee and used to consider safety measures.
- He said the bid-rigging was regrettable and that he would monitor progress on construction in the Shizuoka section.
- He said the political fundraising party had been prepared before his appointment and did not violate the ministerial code.
- He said Representative Yanagi's inquiry about road project allocation amounts did not affect administrative decisions and did not require a record.
Overview
The press conference covered chimney inspections, bid-rigging on the Linear Chuo Shinkansen, political fundraising parties, and records of inquiries related to Representative Yanagi. The minister said he had nothing in particular to report on cabinet matters.
Impact
JR Central reported that, following the penalty, it could not begin tunnel excavation work in the Shizuoka section for the time being. It intended to begin consultations with Taisei Corporation promptly after the business suspension period ended. The minister explained that work contracted before the penalty could continue during the suspension period.
Details
Following the 2026 Kumamoto earthquake, reinforced concrete chimneys over 60 meters tall were inspected. The ministry with jurisdiction asked operators to carry out emergency repairs, and an expert committee at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is investigating the causes of collapse. The inspection results will also be reported to the committee and used to consider safety measures.
Taisei Corporation and Kajima Corporation were ordered to suspend business under the Construction Business Act. The minister said the violation of the Antimonopoly Act was regrettable and that efforts to eliminate misconduct and ensure proper tendering and contracting would continue.
The minister acknowledged that “A Gathering to Build Tomorrow with Tatsunori Ibayashi” was a political fundraising party under the Political Funds Control Act. He said preparations began before his appointment and that payments came only from people who had been invited before his appointment. He said the funds would be used for secretarial salaries and travel expenses.
Around mid-February, Representative Yanagi inquired of former Senior Vice-Minister Sasaki and the then Chief Cabinet Secretary about fiscal 2026 road project allocations for Nasukarasuyama City and Nakagawa Town. The minister explained that guidelines say responses to simple inquiries may qualify as minor matters, and whether to record them is decided case by case. He said allocations are based on local government requests, project progress, and whether priority allocation applies; changes in votes are not considered. He reported that this inquiry did not require a record.