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Former cabinet minister Kunio Hatoyama holds more than 3 billion yen in assets. Photo: Reuters

Former minister Kunio Hatoyama tops rich list of Japan's lawmakers

Japan's 475 lower house members held an average 34.63 million yen (HK$2.2 million) in assets - with former cabinet minister Kunio Hatoyama holding more than 3 billion yen alone, new data shows.

Japan's 475 lower house members held an average 34.63 million yen (HK$2.2 million) in assets - with former cabinet minister Kunio Hatoyama holding more than 3 billion yen alone, 30 times more than that of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe - new data shows.

The amount covering financial assets, land and property as of the first day of their current term that started in December rose for the second straight time. In the previous May 2013 survey, the average stood at 32.30 million yen.

Hatoyama, a former minister of internal affairs and communications and from a blue-blooded political family, had the highest value of assets with 3.06 billion yen, expanded from 1.99 billion yen.

The younger brother of former prime minister Yukio Hatoyama "has inherited land and a house from his mother who died in February 2013", his office said. Cash in trust with securities firms also affected the increase. He is a member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

The top-10 list was dominated by LDP lawmakers. Abe, who heads the party, ranked 21st with 105.29 million yen, down 2.65 million yen.

Saichi Kamiyama ranked second with 967.63 million yen after inheriting real estate, followed by Hirohisa Takagi with 698.56 million yen. They were both elected for their second term last December.

Taro Aso, deputy prime minister and finance minister who once led a family business in the 1970s, came fourth with 457.61 million yen.

The House of Representatives members are required under a 1993 law to release the data.

Covered by the latest data are those who won their seats in last December's election. Among the asset items not included in the data for release are ordinary savings and current account deposits as well as vehicles acquired at a price less of than 1 million yen.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Ex-minister tops lawmakers' rich list
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