This essay summarizes the controversy surrounding the arrest of Kenichi Take of the Kansai Ready-Mix Concrete union and the allegations linking the case to Diet member Kiyomi Tsujimoto.
While reviewing reports from Weekly Asahi and Kansai TV, it also questions the unusual response of NHK, which published a feature article about Tsujimoto while avoiding mention of the controversy.
The case raises broader concerns about the behavior of major media organizations in Japan.

2019-02-16.
No matter how one looks at it, it is unnatural to suddenly feature Ms. Tsujimoto at this timing.
As I myself tweeted, NHK appears to be doing everything possible to avoid mentioning the ready-mix concrete scandal.
The following also continues from the previous article.
https://shinjukuacc.com/20180904-01/.
“The Tsujimoto Ready-Mix Concrete Scandal” and the Constitutional Democratic Party, a treasure house of hopelessly incompetent political figures.
Ready-mix concrete, sexual harassment, affairs, and corruption.
Around the Constitutional Democratic Party, the largest opposition party in the House of Representatives, various scandals continue to appear on the internet almost every day.
Former Prime Minister Naoto Kan says that “it is a misunderstanding that the Constitutional Democratic Party appears arrogant.”
However, the party is not arrogant.
It is simply a treasure house of hopelessly incompetent political figures.

Summary of the ready-mix concrete scandal at present.
The arrest of Kenichi Take of the union.
Because I was on a business trip last weekend, I was unable to follow some important news immediately, but I will introduce this report that appeared about a week ago.
Many readers of this website may already know this, but on the 28th of last month, Kenichi Take, chairman of the Kansai ready-mix concrete branch of the All Japan Construction and Transport Solidarity Union, was arrested by Shiga Prefectural Police on suspicion of attempted extortion.

Arrest of the top figure in Kansai ready-mix concrete.
Attempted extortion case involving a Shiga ready-mix concrete company.
Threats made to a trading firm that refused a contract.
Sankei News, August 28, 2018.

At present, no court verdict has been issued regarding whether the suspect was actually involved in the alleged attempted extortion, so I will refrain from judging whether he is guilty or innocent.
However, according to Kansai Television, the suspect had carried out harassment against company executives that would normally be unimaginable.

“Don of the ready-mix concrete industry arrested.”
Harassment with 100 people shouting in front of a home on New Year’s morning.
Possibly collected nearly 10 billion yen.
Yahoo News, August 28, 2018 (Kansai TV).

According to Kansai TV, the suspect allegedly gathered nearly 10 billion yen over several decades through tactics such as searching for labor violations, conducting protests and demonstrations against companies, and demanding settlement payments.
If these reports are true, the methods strongly resemble those of organized crime groups.

Connection with House of Representatives member Kiyomi Tsujimoto.
When searching the internet for “ready-mix concrete and Kiyomi Tsujimoto,” countless pages appear.
However, among major media outlets, the one that reported this was the Asahi-affiliated website AERA.dot.

“Boomerang for Representative Tsujimoto?”
Shock in Nagatacho after arrest of the ‘don’ of the ready-mix concrete industry.
Weekly Asahi, August 31, 2018.

According to the Weekly Asahi article, Kenichi Take was known as the “don” of the ready-mix concrete industry and possessed influence even in political circles.
Union insiders reportedly said that he financially supported opposition lawmakers including Ms. Tsujimoto.

Furthermore, reports state that Ms. Tsujimoto’s political funding report recorded that the union purchased 500,000 yen worth of party tickets in 1999 and that two union executives donated 1 million yen in 2000.

Is NHK defending Ms. Tsujimoto?
Meanwhile, what appears even more unnatural is NHK’s response.
NHK published an article online titled “Ms. Kiyomi Tsujimoto’s Mother’s Special Homemade Curry.”

In the Diet members’ office building in Nagatacho, Ms. Tsujimoto is shown eating curry rice.
It is said to be a special curry prepared weekly by her mother in Osaka.

No matter how one looks at it, featuring Ms. Tsujimoto at this timing is unnatural.
As I tweeted, it would not be surprising if people suspect that NHK is doing everything possible to avoid mentioning the ready-mix concrete scandal.
(NHK often removes content from its website very quickly, so the linked images may disappear soon.)
To be continued.