TOKYO (Reuters) - The head of a Japanese nationalist school at the heart of a political scandal said in sworn testimony in parliament on Thursday that he received a donation of 1 million yen from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s wife in her husband’s name.

The controversy over a sweetheart land deal at the school has chipped away at Abe’s support and sent Japanese shares briefly lower on Thursday, and any questions over the donation could cast further doubt over the deal.

Abe has said neither he nor his wife, Akie, intervened in the land deal in which educational group Moritomo Gakuen, based in Osaka, bought state-owned land at a fraction of its appraisal price to build an elementary school.

Abe also denies allegations by Yasunori Kagoike, who said he would step down as head of Moritomo Gakuen, that Akie had donated 1 million yen ($9,000) on the prime minister’s behalf.

Akie had been set to be honorary principal of the school, which was to open in April with a curriculum based on prewar patriotism that taught students to be subjects, not citizens. She cut her ties after the scandal broke. The group currently runs a kindergarten with a similar curriculum.

Kagoike, in testimony to an upper house budget committee under oath - which means he could face perjury charges if he is later found to have lied - said he received money from Abe’s wife in 2015 when the two of them were alone in a room.

“She said ‘please, this is from Shinzo Abe’, and gave me an envelope with 1 million yen in it,” Kagoike said.

“Abe’s wife apparently says she doesn’t remember this at all, but since this was a matter of honor to us, I remember it quite vividly.”

His testimony was broadcast live on four of Japan’s six television networks.

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Following Kagoike’s testimony, Akie denied his allegations.

“I have neither given Mr. Kagoike 1 million yen in donation nor received speech fees,” Akie said on Facebook. Kagoike told parliament he received the donation when Akie visited his kindergarten to give a speech.

Kagoike is a member of Nippon Kaigi, a nationalist lobby group that promotes a traditional ethos mixing Shinto myth, patriotism and pride in an ancient imperial line. The group has close ties to Abe and his cabinet.

RESIGNATION RISK?

Abe has said he will resign if evidence were found that he or Akie intervened in the land deal, or helped the school get accredited.

Asked about the deal, Kagoike said: “My understanding is that political involvement probably took place regarding the acquisition of state-owned land.”

Chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga later on Thursday reiterated that Abe had not donated money either himself or through a third party, including his wife.

Japan’s largest opposition Democratic Party said it would demand Akie’s testimony at parliament, just like Kagoike.

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“What Mr. Kagoike said is one-sided. We will call the government for Mrs. Akie to appear before parliament as a sworn witness, which is the same condition (as Kagoike’s testimony) and would be fair, to hear both sides of the story,” Democratic Party leader Renho, who goes by her given name only, told reporters.

Abe’s term as ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) president ends in 2018 but a rule change means he can run for a third three-year term, allowing him to remain premier as long as the LDP stays in power.

The LDP had resisted opposition calls for Kagoike to testify but agreed after he said Abe had donated money, calling the allegation an “insult” to the prime minister.

Abe’s support fell 10 points to a still-robust 56 percent in a Yomiuri newspaper survey published this week, the biggest drop since he returned to office for a rare second term in December 2012. He quit abruptly in 2007 after a year at the top plagued by scandals in his cabinet, an election drubbing and ill-health.

The Nikkei stock index fell to a 1-1/2-month low prior to the testimony before recovering, and analysts said the impact at this point does not appear to be long-lasting.

“It’s true that everyone’s interest is fixed on this issue for now, but markets believe the Abe government is handling it well,” said Takuro Hayashi at Iwai Cosmo Securities.

“People still need to pay attention to whether there was government influence in the land deal, but the overall impact on the markets will be limited.”