Overview

• Internal records obtained by The Mainichi show the prefecture directed a contracted valuation firm to apply a “desired unit price,” escalating compensation from about ¥430,000 to ¥2,165,000.
• In a press briefing on August 13, officials acknowledged multiple procedural failures in the appraisal process and described the transaction as “inappropriate.”
• The prefecture has engaged outside real estate appraisers to reassess the payment and indicated it may seek reimbursement from the landowner for the excess amount.
• New reporting revealed that the then-head of the field office personally led negotiations and held final approval authority for purchases under ¥50 million, bypassing standard internal checks.
• Officials propose procedural reforms to mandate headquarters sign-off on special valuation elements—such as added development costs—to bolster transparency and oversight.