Two days after the Aug. 30 Lower House election ended decades of power by the Liberal Democratic Party, the LDP-led government withdrew ¥250 million from a controversial Cabinet secret fund, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano said Nov. 20.

The revelation came as the government led by the Democratic Party of Japan faces pressure to disclose what is dubbed the Cabinet's kimitsu-hi (secret fund).

Hirano revealed the monthly expenditure of the discretionary fund dating back to fiscal 2004 after he admitted Nov. 19 that he withdrew a combined total of ¥120 million in September and October. However, he refused to disclose how the money was used.

On Nov. 20, Hirano once more refused to say how the money was used. He also had no comment on the details of the ¥250 million the LDP withdrew Sept. 1.