EDITORIAL: Kanji test group scandal

People who have taken or plan to take kanji aptitude tests organized by the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation must be dismayed.

Allegations have surfaced that Noboru Okubo, the founder and former chief director of the Kyoto-based kanji test organizer, and his son exploited the foundation for personal gain and profit.

When Okubo first organized the test to measure kanji knowledge in 1975, several hundred people sat for it. But the test has grown into a big business, with more than 2.8 million taking it annually now. More than 70 percent of the test-takers are junior and senior high school students.

The test has gained so much popularity that it has penetrated the nation's school education system.

The foundation has been advertising the test as helpful for passing entrance and employment examinations, as well as for passing down Japanese kanji culture.

According to the foundation, 1,079 faculties and departments at 490 universities and junior colleges across the nation used the kanji test certificates to screen candidates for their entrance examinations for the 2009 academic year.

Certification tests have proliferated in this country. A huge number of Japanese take all kinds of tests, including those to gauge English proficiency, secretary skills and bookkeeping knowledge and even about specific cities and towns. But the kanji test stands out from the crowd.

However, in an outrageous manner, Okubo and his son, Hiroshi, former deputy chief of the foundation, apparently abused the public-interest organization to feather their own nests.

An inquiry into the allegations against them by an investigative committee comprising outside experts, including lawyers and a certified public accountant, has uncovered some surprising facts.

The foundation contracted out publishing, test marking, advertising and other operations to four companies headed by Okubo or his son, paying these firms about 25.1 billion yen in total, according to the committee's report and other revelations.

Under rules for preventing conflicts of interest, the foundation is, in principle, banned from having business transactions with companies headed by its directors. Such a business deal, if necessary, is permitted only when the board of directors approves it after examining related information disclosed. The Okubos apparently ignored the basic rules.

The committee report also noted suspicious outflows of money from the foundation. It is suspected that a big chunk of the money went to the Okubos. The money came from the huge profits from test fees, ranging from 1,500 yen to 5,000 yen depending on the grades.

The Kyoto District Public Prosecutors Office is looking into possible charges of breach of trust against the Okubos. The two must be held strictly responsible for any violation of the law.

Akio Kioi, a former head of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, has become the new chief director of the foundation and proposed a plan to reform the group in 100 days.

Kioi should sever all of the foundation's ties with the disgraced former chief and his son.

The foundation has announced a plan to terminate its business transactions with two of the four companies operated by the Okubos. But it should also take a hard look at its relations with the two other companies. The four companies must return all of the unfairly earned profits from their transactions with the foundation.

Ryu Shionoya, the minister of education, culture, sports, science and technology, has urged the foundation to call off the scheduled kanji test in June unless it can carry out necessary reforms by the end of May.

Many students are planning to take the test as part of their preparations for university entrance examinations. A radical overhaul of the foundation must be pushed through quickly.

--The Asahi Shimbun, April 24(IHT/Asahi: April 25,2009)