In Japan, Right-Wing School Scandal Entangles 2 Women Close to Abebr ve My Own Life," Mrs. Abe said she supported her husband’s efforts to create a society in which "women can shine," writingbr that "women don’t need to work just like men do." The Japanese news media sometimes describes Mrs. Abe as the prime minister’s "at-home opposition party," because she has expressed more progressive views on issues like lesbian and gay rights and nuclear power in addition to supporting women’s causes. that I Libr Last week, the leader of the group said Mrs. Abe gave him an envelope of cash two yearsbr ago as a donation from the prime minister, a claim Mr. Abe has vociferously denied.br But an unrelenting scandal over allegations that a right-wing education group received improper political favors has ensnaredbr two of the most prominent women in Mr. Abe’s life: his wife, Akie Abe, and his defense minister, Tomomi Inada.br In response to questions for Mrs. Abe, the office of the prime minister referred to his comments in Parliament on Friday, when he defended his wife, sayingbr that she had never given money to the school group and that neither of them was involved in selling public land to the proposed school.br In Parliament last week, Mr. Abe defended Ms. Inada, saying he wanted her to "continue to performbr her duties with sincerity." For now, critics say Ms. Inada may survive the scandal.br Ms. Inada, Japan’s second female defense minister, whom Mr. Abe has been grooming to be his successor, is fighting calls for her resignation after she retracted a statementbr that she had never represented the school group in a lawsuit.