Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi drew criticism from opposition parties on Wednesday after admitting to distributing congratulatory gift catalogs to all of her party's House of Representatives lawmakers elected in the Feb. 8 general election, while denying any illegality.
In a parliamentary session, Takaichi said her local chapter of the Liberal Democratic Party used its political funds to send to each of her party's 315 lawmakers booklets listing gifts that they could order, with an allocation of around 30,000 yen ($190) per person.
"We donated the gifts as the (LDP) branch of the Nara Prefecture's second constituency after the lower house election to praise their victories in the very tough election," Takaichi said, responding to a question from an opposition lawmaker.
Takaichi, who represents the constituency, made a similar admission in a post on X late Tuesday after media reports on the matter, also saying government subsidies for the party were not used for the gifts.
In the election, the LDP secured 316 of the 465 seats in the lower house, including the one held by Takaichi, giving the party and its coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, a three-quarters majority. She said the catalogs were sent to the party's lawmakers elected in the election, excluding herself.
In March last year, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Takaichi's predecessor, was criticized by opposition parties for distributing gift vouchers worth 100,000 yen to LDP lawmakers who won their first seats in the October 2024 lower house election.
Citing Ishiba's case, Masayo Tanabu, who questioned Takaichi about the gift catalogs in the Diet session, said, "I should note that the issue of 'money and politics' has continued from then to this day, along with inflation."
Opposition parties criticized Takaichi over the issue, with Junya Ogawa, leader of the Centrist Reform Alliance, saying at a party gathering, "The mindset of handing out gifts and the sense for how to use money reflect the old culture of the LDP, which we cannot overlook."
Motohisa Furukawa, who heads the Diet affairs committee of the Democratic Party for the People, another major opposition party, told a press conference that Takaichi's latest behavior "only deepens public distrust in politics" and that the LDP's landslide election win might have made her "big-headed."
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Masanao Ozaki told a separate news conference that he believes the government can gain public understanding over the catalog issue.
"We must continue to provide thorough explanations," Ozaki, a senior government spokesman, added.
The latest revelation came amid lingering public distrust over money and politics, especially within the LDP, as many of the party's lawmakers were involved in a high-profile slush fund scandal that came to light in late 2023.
At the center of the scandal was an intraparty faction formerly led by the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, whose conservative political stance and hawkish security views are shared with his close ally Takaichi.
The scandal dealt a heavy blow to the LDP in national elections in 2024 and 2025, when it was led by Ishiba.
© KYODO
25 Comments
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BakaFugu
Nothing like a big fat nothingburger to waste everyones time, but i guess the press needs to keep their keyboards warm.
itsonlyrocknroll
Why?
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi behaviour is frankly disrespectful to J electorate.
“We donated the gifts as the (LDP) branch of the Nara Prefecture's second constituency after the lower house election to praise their victories in the very tough election,"
The LDP still refuses to accept the party is knee deep in a politically corrupt cesspit
In March last year, Ishiba was criticized by opposition parties for distributing gift vouchers worth 100,000 yen to LDP lawmakers who won for the first time in the previous lower house election in October 2024.ll roads could ultimately lead to slush fund financed subsidies
Sanae Takaichi never ever needed to behave this way.
CEOB55
More garbage from the left wing crazies at Kyodo. JT should rethink which news agencies it subscribes to and drop shops like Kyodo, the AP and worst of all the French government owned propaganda mouthpiece, AFP
quercetum
100,000 yen is more like it. What can you buy with 30,000 in those catalogs, a towel set? One cutting board.
Negative Nancy
There should be no gift giving in politics. These people are supposed to be public servants.
wallace
It's illegal for politicians to give money or gifts to anyone.
Nibek32
These gifts were funded by tax payers.
ThePunisher
I see the pro-government spin doctors are already on the defensive here!
Nothing changes with the LDP, and never will. It took multiple scandals over many years to finish Abe's career, so Takaiichi probably has 10 more scandals to go. Likely more.
browny1
It is illegal.
Others have lost their positions because of similar acts.
Will_Rendle
BakaFuguToday 04:48 pm JST
So why's it a nothingburger. For some politicians this kind of thing has been a resigning issue.
CEOB55
Today 05:02 pm JST
I take it you don't mind sleaze and corruption as long as it involves right-wing politicians that you approve of.
grc
There was a piece a few days back about how loved Takaichi is by young voters because she has broken with past LDP naughtiness Silly young voters
tttccc111
I know it, Bribery is not illegal in Japan
syniksan
Jimin sleaze doesn't end by altering the shop front window.
wanderlust
tttccc111Today 06:02 pm JST
Bribing public servants in Japan is a criminal offense regulated primarily by the Penal Code of Japan. The law prohibits both the giving and receiving of bribes and covers a wide range of individuals and benefits. But, prosecutors are required to prove that both a giver and a taker (i.e., a public official) offered and received a bribe while recognising that the purpose is to gain and receive advantageous treatment in connection with the receiver’s authority.
Getting evidence - that's the difficult part.
BigP
That was a very stupid move by Takaichi. Who is advising her?
Abe234
Aaaargh yes. The Gifts!!!!! I wish some politicians would give me gifts. You shouldn't be giving anyone gifts. I don't give a..hoot.because public workers aren't supposed to accept gifts, and they shouldn't be offering them either. Remember next time we visit immigration or get stopped by the police, we should offer them a gift catalogue so they can choose a gift of up to...50,000 yen. Of course, it's out of the kindness of my heart because they work soooooo hard. No, remember it's not a bribe, it's just a recognition of their hard work and duty to the......the people. Yes! That's it! ..The people!
Will_Rendle
BigPToday 07:24 pm JST
The old men in the LDP that she's spent her whole career simpering around, I suspect.
dan
Corruption is rife as usual in the land of the rising bum
shogun36
"political funds" as in funds they raised from private fundraisers? or as in tax payer's money?
either way, I guarantee not one yen came out of her own pocket.
Will_Rendle
Or "thank" them in advance for their expected assistance with pushing her legislative agenda through the Diet.
kaimycahl
It sad, some people can't find anything else to do to beat this women so they complain and dig up or throw dirt. As she admitted giving gifts, so whats wrong with that? Oh its because she's the Prime Minister so it matter more than ever now. If they felt she was not a threat to their agenda they would move on but there will be more.
Agent_Neo
Prime Minister Takaichi's gift to a politician from her own party is not particularly illegal.
In principle, it is illegal (a violation of the Public Offices Election Act) for a politician to give gifts to another politician "within their constituency."
Donations between political parties and proper reporting of political activity expenses must be done in accordance with the rules.
Furthermore, the opposition parties will likely fall into Takaichi's trap and criticize the ruling party for trivial reasons, thereby losing public support. It was thanks to the opposition parties that former Prime Minister Abe was able to maintain his long-term administration by criticizing him.
History will repeat itself...
Aoi Azuuri
Recent Japanese voters who like PM and ruling parties with superficial impression by innumerable social media "ad" cannot understand even what's problem.
In recent this country where the separation of three power was lost practically, illegal easily become legal when ruling parties politicians only say "no illegality". Prosecutors do nothing no matter what ruling parties' politicians did.
Besides, anonymous far-rights who always justify by sophistry whatever Takaichi does fill with timeline of social media.
Those make politics corrupt further.
Legrande
Mark my words the time is ticking for Sanae due to the fact that she is no different from her LDP predecessors, she only won public approval due to her gender and parroting of nationalist slogans.
Will_Rendle
Agent_NeoFeb. 25 10:52 pm JST
The whole country is now basically her constituency.
Well, I never thought it was because he was any good at his job.
kaimycahl
Feb. 25 09:41 pm JST
It's bribery.