Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi recently addressed the controversy surrounding ‘gifts’ given to Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) members who won in the recent general election. In response to criticisms suggesting potential violations of the Political Funds Control Act, she countered by saying, “There are no legal issues.”
According to Asahi Shimbun, Prime Minister Takaichi, on the morning of the 25th, attended the House of Councillors’ plenary session, where she explained the purpose of what was termed a ‘catalog gift.’ She stated that a catalog containing a variety of gift options was sent to all 315 LDP members who won in the House of Representatives election on the 8th, allowing them to select the item of their choice as a congratulatory gift for their election victory. Weekly Bunshun had reported the day before that Prime Minister Takaichi distributed gifts worth tens of thousands of yen per person.
During a parliamentary session, Prime Minister Takaichi explained that the gifts were intended as a gesture of encouragement, hoping the new members could utilize them in their activities as legislators. She clarified that the total cost of the gifts was around 10 million yen (approximately 91.85 million won), averaging about 30,000 yen (approximately 270,000 won) per person. She emphasized that it was a donation made by the Nara Prefecture’s 2nd district branch, of which she is the head.
Prime Minister Takaichi also provided an explanation via her account on X (formerly Twitter). After reports emerged, she posted that state subsidies for political parties were not used for this expenditure. The source of the gift funds was the LDP branch’s finances, implying there was no issue with gifting party members. She also mentioned that while there had been multiple requests to hold dinner gatherings, she found it challenging given her schedule, including a policy speech and diplomatic schedules, and instead prepared modest gifts.
Despite Prime Minister Takaichi’s proactive explanations, the ‘gift controversy’ persists. Shuichi Mizuoka, leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party, brought up a similar issue from last year involving Shigeru Ishiba’s administration. At that time, after a meal with newly elected LDP members, Ishiba allegedly gave gift vouchers worth 100,000 yen (approximately 910,000 won) each. This raised questions about violating the Political Funds Control Act, which prohibits gifts for political activities, although Ishiba explained that it was a personal expense aimed at fostering camaraderie.
Masaki Taniai, chairman of the Komeito House of Councillors, criticized, claiming, “The public expected Prime Minister Takaichi to reform the LDP’s practices,” emphasizing the prime minister’s heavy accountability. Kyodo News suggested that the purpose of gift distribution could potentially imply legal violations.