Hey fam! Japan's Prime Minister and LDP President Sanae Takaichi just apologized 🙏 after her local party chapter in Nara Prefecture accepted a corporate donation of 10 million yen—over the 7.5 million yen legal cap. She appeared before the House of Representatives' Budget Committee on December 9 and said the extra funds have already been returned.
The drama started when Kobe Gakuin University Professor Hiroshi Kamiwaki filed a complaint on December 4. He pointed out that on August 26 last year, a Tokyo-based company gave 10 million yen to Takaichi's chapter—exceeding the limit by 2.5 million yen (about USD 16,000). The donation was supposed to stop at 7.5 million yen.
This incident piles on the LDP's ongoing slush fund scandal (an unreported stash of cash used behind the scenes) first exposed in 2023. Back then, some LDP factions allegedly told lawmakers to sell extra fundraiser tickets off the books, then secretly funneled the surplus back as kickbacks. The result? Hidden funds and a big hit to public trust.
On top of that, seven senior officials appointed by Takaichi since she took office in October have been linked to the scandal. Critics say her apology sounds sincere but wonder if she'll push for real reform 🧐.
For tech-savvy young pros in South Asia and Southeast Asia—who've been championing transparency from India's anti-corruption campaigns to youth-led movements in Thailand—Japan's latest political twist is another reminder: clean politics isn't just a buzzword, it's a global trend. Stay tuned as Tokyo's story unfolds! 💼✨
Reference(s):
Japanese PM apologizes for accepting excess corporate donations
cgtn.com
