FUKUOKA (TR) – Forensic audio analysis has concluded with “over 99.99 percent” certainty that a leaked recording of a man orchestrating a political payoff belongs to the current deputy chairman of the Fukuoka Prefectural Assembly, reports Fuji News Network (July 13).
The recording is at the center of an escalating scandal in which Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) assembly executives are accused of operating a massive “shakedown” scheme, demanding millions of yen in exchange for high-ranking political appointments.
The whistleblower, former assembly chairman Motoaki Yoshimatsu, released the audio data. Yoshimatsu claims that prior to 2020, he and another assembly member were extorted out of 28.4 million yen by LDP executives, including Deputy Chairman Masayuki Nakao, to secure his appointment to the chairman’s post.
Yoshimatsu described the demands as “a shakedown taking advantage of those who cannot defy their superiors, similar to collecting protection money.”
“Luggage”
On the leaked tape, a voice now identified as Nakao can be heard saying, “Chairman Matsumoto will hold onto the ‘luggage’ tomorrow.” In another clip, the voice adds, “It’s a lot of money, so we have to manage it properly.”
The term “luggage” is widely understood to be a coded reference to illicit cash.
According to Yoshimatsu, the extorted funds were funneled into the pockets and vanity projects of current Assembly Chairman Isao Kurauchi, a powerful figure known locally as the “Don of the Fukuoka Prefectural Assembly.”
Yoshimatsu alleges the money covered approximately 10 million yen for “Kurauchi-kai” golf outings, 490,000 yen at high-end restaurants, and 2.5 million yen for vehicle expenses.
When asked about Yoshimatsu’s accusations, Chairman Kurauchi brushed them off, telling reporters, “He won’t meet with me face-to-face. I thought I raised him… It’s a shame. I don’t know where he went wrong.”
“99.99 percent”
To verify the tape’s authenticity, Fuji News Network commissioned the Japan Acoustic Lab, an expert forensic institute frequently utilized by police and the courts.
Lab Director So Suzuki confirmed a 15-point frequency match with Nakao’s voice.
“Given this level of matching, it is highly unlikely to be a different person,” Suzuki said. “We conclude it is the same individual. In terms of percentage, it is over 99.99 percent.”
Deputy Chairman Nakao initially denied involvement, telling reporters, “It sounds like me, but since no money exchanged hands, I wouldn’t have said such a thing.”
However, when pressed during a recent press conference about what he would do if forensic analysis proved the voice was indeed his, Nakao offered a weak defense.
“Well,” Nakao replied, “that would just be a lapse in my memory.”
Public pressure is now mounting for the deputy chairman to provide a full explanation regarding the recording.
