Former PM Hatoyama's mother dies at 90

She was a fine lady and a great family member and deserved her accolades. Silly to mention that frivolous set of charges, why should a mother NOT give her own kids gifts? Silly to even question it. Take care and peace to her spirit. She will be missed.

why was she a "fine lady?" just for being rich and giving tons of money to her son? i fail to see the connection.

May she have everlasting happyness and peace.

Does this mean that Hatoyama-san will no longer receive any payments? He'll have to start working?

Who cares? Why is this news?

The hereditary entitlement to political positions is a fairly ugly and dysfunctional part of Japanese politics.

Kundong :*

The hereditary entitlement to political positions is a fairly ugly and dysfunctional part of Japanese politics*

Not only J politics. .............................Tell me a country that doesn't have 'hereditary entitlement'

CrisGerSan: " Silly to mention that frivolous set of charges, why should a mother NOT give her own kids gifts?"

No one said she shouldn't -- but when one is not paying taxes on said gifts and/or it is put forth as a political donation, that's illegal.

In any case, Hatoyama is proving to be a better man behind the scenes than he ever was as PM, and his apology in China is proof of that -- that he really cares. No doubt he keenly feels the loss of his mother. We all have to go some time, and 90 is not a bad age at all.

This was probed as a possible illegal political donation, but no charges were ever laid against her.

Oh shockers there!

Tell me a country that doesn't have 'hereditary entitlement'

There is hereditary entitlement and then government hereditary entitlement. Japanese suffers from both.

RIP old lady.

Semperfi,

Research the facts.

In 2009 5% of the US Congress were descendants of lawmakers, and 40% of LDP lawmakers are descendants of lawmakers.

Japan not only has a PROBLEM it has a RELATIVELY LARGER PROBLEM than other democracies, with the hereditary entitlement to political positions.

Oh dear, the photo !

(sarcastic remark) Hahaha ! ! ! Nice bathing suits the boys have on !!!! Hahaha !!!!

Very funny !!!

Cash Rules Everything Around Me Cream Get The Money Yen Yen Bill Yalllll !!!!!

She continued to be a controversial figure in Japanese politics, allegedly gifting hundreds of millions of yen to her sons in Bridgestone shares and in cash.

RIP. you deserve it.

For a rich family you think they would have been able to afford some better bathers.