FILE PHOTO: Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (R) talks with former education minister Hakubun Shimomura during a parliament session for a no-confidence motion against Abe's cabinet, submitted by four opposition parties at the parliament in Tokyo, Japan May 31, 2016. REUTERS/Toru Hanai
TOKYO (Reuters) - An ally of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe denied on Thursday receiving secret political donations from an educational institution at the core of a scandal over suspected favouritism that has sliced Abe's support ratings ahead of a key local poll.
Former education minister Hakubun Shimomura, who heads the Tokyo chapter of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), made the comments at a hastily called news conference just days before Sunday's election for the Tokyo Metropolitan assembly.
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