Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi Embroiled in New Controversy Over Gift Catalogs for Ruling Party Lawmakers

Tokyo. Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has found herself embroiled in a new controversy after it was revealed that she provided gift catalogs as tokens of congratulations to lawmakers from her own party. Opposition parties have raised sharp questions following the disclosure that over 300 lawmakers were given the opportunity to select gifts from a catalog after the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) achieved significant success in the recent elections.

Prime Minister Takaichi clarified via the social media platform X that this move was an 'expression of appreciation for the lawmakers who succeeded in the tough election.' According to her, taxpayer money was not used to purchase the gifts. Speaking in parliament on Wednesday, she stated that the cost of each gift, including shipping and tax, was approximately 30,000 yen, and this amount was covered by the political fund of the Nara branch of the LDP, where she serves as the head.

However, this incident has brought to mind the previously seen 'slush fund' scandal in Japanese politics. In 2023, then-Prime Minister Fumio Kishida faced pressure due to the same affair, and the subsequent political fallout led to the coalition led by Shigeru Ishiba losing its majority in both houses of parliament. Therefore, analyses suggest that the new revelation has once again raised questions about public trust.

The leader of the main opposition centrist reform coalition, Junya Ogawa, publicly reacted with, 'Prime Minister Takaichi, you too?' and demanded clear accountability on the matter. He stated that this is a new development and must be strictly investigated.

Prime Minister Takaichi, however, expressed hope that the gifts received by the lawmakers would be 'useful for their future work as Diet members.' According to Japan's political fund laws, individuals are prohibited from making direct donations to candidates, but political parties or their local branches can provide support.

According to the online edition of the weekly tabloid Shukan Bunshun, the gift catalog is from the famous Kintetsu Department Store. The store arranges for the catalog to be sent with an advance payment of about 34,000 yen, allowing the recipient to choose items such as bicycles, expensive crab meat, or luxury hotel stays.

Previously, in 2025, Shigeru Ishiba faced criticism for distributing gift certificates worth 100,000 yen to 15 first-term members of the lower house using his own private funds. The current affair has once again heated up the debate surrounding political ethics and the use of funds.