Asia

Japan first lady's praise for school removed amid scandal

Associated Press
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FILE - In this Feb. 10, 2017, file photo, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his wife Akie Abe step off of Air Force One as they arrive in West Palm Beach, Fla. An endorsement by Akie of a new elementary school run by a man with ultra-nationalistic views has been removed from the school's website amid an escalating controversy over the low price the school paid for government land. Japanese media reported that the state property in Osaka, western Japan, was sold in 2016 for 134 million yen ($1.2 million), one-seventh of its appraised price. Abe denied on Feb. 17, 2017, he or Akie had any influence over the land deal. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File) (The Associated Press)

FILE - In this Feb. 10, 2017, file photo, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his wife Akie Abe step off of Air Force One as they arrive in West Palm Beach, Fla. An endorsement by Akie of a new elementary school run by a man with ultra-nationalistic views has been removed from the school's website amid an escalating controversy over the low price the school paid for government land. Japanese media reported that the state property in Osaka, western Japan, was sold in 2016 for 134 million yen ($1.2 million), one-seventh of its appraised price. Abe denied on Feb. 17, 2017, he or Akie had any influence over the land deal. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File) (The Associated Press)

An endorsement by the wife of Japan's prime minister of a new elementary school run by a man with ultra-nationalistic views has been removed from the school's website amid an escalating controversy over the low price the school paid for government land.

Japanese media have reported that the state property in Osaka was sold in 2016 for 134 million yen ($1.2 million), one-seventh of its appraised price. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has denied he or his wife Akie had any influence over the land deal.

The same school operator runs a kindergarten with a curriculum said to resemble that of pre-World War II Japan. It plans a similar approach for the elementary school, which is set to open in April, pending final approval by Osaka prefecture.