Finance Minister Fukushiro Nukaga Nov. 6 formally admitted to receiving about ¥200,000 in the name of "car fare" from a former executive of a scandal-hit defense equipment trading house shortly before becoming Defense Agency chief in October 2005.

According to Nukaga, Motonobu Miyazaki, the 69-year-old former executive of Yamada Corp., gave Nukaga the money as "car fare" at his office in the Diet members' building along with an invitation to a wedding party for a daughter of Yamada's chairman in 2005.

"I was strongly requested (by Miyazaki) to attend the wedding party," Nukaga said.

But Nukaga sent his wife to the party in his place and gave the money as a congratulatory gift to the newlyweds, given that he became Defense Agency chief shortly after the invitation and the sum was "a bit big," Nukaga said.