On Thursday, December 4, 2025, a criminal complaint was filed against Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi 🤔. The charge? Allegedly accepting a 10 million yen donation in August 2024—well above the 7.5 million yen cap set by law.
The complaint was submitted by Hiroshi Kamiwaki, a constitutional law professor at Kobe Gakuin University. It points to a local chapter of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in Nara Prefecture—under Takaichi's watch—receiving a political gift that broke the bank… or at least the legal limit.
In a similar twist, an LDP chapter in Kanagawa Prefecture, led by Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, reportedly took in a 10 million yen donation from another firm, also overshooting the 7.5 million yen cap. Kamiwaki filed that complaint on Wednesday, adding fuel to an already blazing scandal.
This year's headlines build on a slush fund scandal that first came to light in 2023: factions within the LDP are accused of selling fundraising party tickets beyond their quotas, hiding the surplus off the books, and funneling it back to lawmakers as kickbacks 💸.
Critics argue that Takaichi's top picks—seven senior officials appointed this October—have ties to the scandal, suggesting her reform promises might be more talk than action. The real question: Will this complaint spark the structural changes voters have been asking for, or will it fade into the background?
Stay tuned as this story unfolds—you know we'll keep you posted with all the updates!
Reference(s):
Complaint filed against Takaichi for alleged illegal receipt of funds
cgtn.com
