The Japanese government has decided not to appeal a ruling by the Osaka High Court that rejects the Finance Ministry's decision not to disclose documents related to the controversial sale of state-owned land to school operator Moritomo Gakuen.

The court's decision on January 30 overturned the Osaka District Court's 2023 ruling that accepted the ministry's assertions.

The lawsuit was filed by the widow of Akagi Toshio, a former ministry official who took his own life in 2018 at age 54 after being forced to falsify documents related to the discount sale of the land in Osaka Prefecture.

His wife Akagi Masako is seeking the disclosure of documents the ministry had submitted to investigators.

But the ministry rejected her request and has not even said whether such documents exist, arguing that doing so could obstruct future investigations.

The high court rejected the claim that disclosing the documents could affect future investigations and ordered the ministry to cancel its decision of withholding disclosure.

After speaking with Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru on February 6, Finance Minister Kato Katsunobu told reporters the ministry will not appeal the high court ruling.

S/ Akagi Masako, Wife of Akagi Toshio / I texted Prime Minister Ishiba, thanking him. There are many bereaved families who are suffering, and many of them don't come to this point, so I hope our case gives them hope.

Later in the day, Ishiba told reporters why he came to the conclusion.

S/ Ishiba Shigeru, Prime Minister / When I think about the feelings of Akagi-san and his bereaved family, I thought I should take the ruling sincerely and decided not to appeal.

As to whether the government will disclose the documents in question, Ishiba said he will handle the matter with sincerity from the standpoint of fulfilling responsibility to the people based on laws.

Moritomo Gakuen was once linked to the wife of the late former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo.