Former Justice Minister Kawai Katsuyuki and his lawmaker wife, Kawai Anri, denied charges of vote buying in the opening of their trial at Tokyo District Court on Tuesday.

Prosecutors alleged that Kawai Katsuyuki distributed about 270,000 dollars in cash to 100 local politicians and senior members of support groups to secure votes for his wife. She won a seat in the Upper House election in July last year.

Tokyo prosecutors have indicted former Justice Minister Kawai Katsuyuki and his lawmaker wife Kawai Anri on charges of buying votes for an election.

Prosecutors say Kawai Katsuyuki handed out a total of around 270,000 dollars to about 100 people, mainly local politicians and supporters. They say he tried to secure votes for his wife's successful bid for the Upper House last July.

Japan's former Justice Minister Kawai Katsuyuki and his wife Kawai Anri have been arrested by prosecutors over an alleged violation of the election law. Both are lawmakers, formerly with the main ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

Prosecutors arrested the couple on Thursday and searched their offices.

Chinese tourists visiting Japan are buying facemasks to take home to protect themselves from the pneumonia outbreak believed to be caused by a new coronavirus.

Many Chinese travelers were buying masks at a drugstore in a departure lobby at Narita Airport, outside Tokyo, on Thursday.