🚨 Big news from Tokyo: Earlier today (December 9), Japanese Prime Minister and LDP President Sanae Takaichi issued a public apology after her local Liberal Democratic Party chapter in Nara accepted a corporate donation that broke legal limits. 🤝💸
At a Budget Committee meeting of the House of Representatives, Takaichi expressed "deep regret" over the incident, explaining that her Nara chapter received ¥10 million (about $64,400) from a Tokyo-based company on August 26, 2024exceeding the ¥7.5 million cap under the political funds control law. She added that the extra ¥2.5 million has since been returned. 🏦🔙
The apology follows a complaint filed on December 4 by Kobe Gakuin University Professor Hiroshi Kamiwaki, who urged prosecutors to investigate the breach. 🧐📝
This episode adds to a broader LDP slush fund scandal first revealed in 2023. Back then, some LDP factions were accused of over-selling political fundraising tickets, hiding surplus cash in off-the-books accounts, and channeling funds back to lawmakers as kickbacks. 🎟️💵
Seven of the senior officials Takaichi appointed after she took office in October 2025 have links to that scandal. Critics argue her cautious response shows little appetite for deep reforms. Will this push the party to clean up its act? 🌱🤔
Stay tuned as the story unfolds! 🔍
Reference(s):
Japanese PM apologizes for accepting excess corporate donations
cgtn.com
