Shinzo Abe’s commitment to a conservative ideology and to the legacy of his family has been apparent all through his life, but the recent hints that he may be personally corrupt are something new. The tactics that Abe and his lieutenants have been employing to defend themselves against a pair of scandals regarding schools are despicable. This is a matter that goes beyond conservative ideology and into a realm that calls into question Abe’s commitment to the fundamental bases of democratic government.