The scandal revolves around the Recruit Company, an information-services conglomerate that sought influence by giving gifts, stock and cash to Japanese leaders.

Both men indirectly received thousands of shares of unlisted stock from the Recruit Company, a high-flying service concern, before the shares were traded publicly.

Mr. Kaifu has acknowledge that he took about $100,000 in contributions from the Recruit Company from 1984 to 1987.

According to the Recruit Company, which provides information services, the number of test takers for 17 popular exams surged 20 percent to 30 percent, on average, from 1990 to 1995.

Mr. Kaifu took office in August after the financial scandal involving the Recruit Company rocked his party and forced the resignation of two earlier prime ministers.

Mr. Ezoe, who founded the Recruit Company, is accused of masterminding the bribery scheme to enlarge his profits and his own influence.

The free fall began a year and a half ago in the midst of the stock-and-influence peddling scandal centering on the Recruit Company.

Many, like Mr. Miyazawa, are still perceived as tainted because they received money from the Recruit Company, which was at the heart of the 1989 scandals.

This week he admitted that he holds 10,000 shares in the Recruit Company, in addition to 5,000 in Recruit Cosmos.