 How political donations are collected (Figures are for 2003, based on financial reports submitted to the Public Management Ministry.) In Japan, the Political Funds Control Law requires all political parties (national organizations) to submit their financial reports to the Public Management Ministry every year. Local bodies of political parties submit their financial reports to the corresponding prefectural election administration committees. The Japanese Communist Party's activities are funded by (1) membership dues (4 percent of all revenues), (2) earnings from publications, including the daily and weekly Akahata newspapers (about 85 percent), and (3) individual donations (3.1 percent). Unlike all the other major parties, it receives no money from corporations. It also refuses to take tax money distributed by the government in the name of "political party subsidy" in violation of the Constitution. Liberal Democratic Party activities heavily count on the government subsidy (which accounts for 59.9 percent of the party's revenue) and donations from large corporations and powerful lobbying groups (13.8 percent). The biggest donors are the Japan Dental Association's fund raising organization (310 million yen), the Japan Medical Association's political arm (208 million yen), and Toyota Motor Corporation (64.4 million yen). More than 80 percent of the revenue for the Democratic Party of Japan, the largest opposition party in the Diet, is from the government subsidy. It also takes money from corporations, including Suzuki Motor Corp., and Denso, as well as labor union (0.5 percent of the total). The Japanese Trade Union Confederation (Rengo) and the Toyota Motor Labor Union bought fund-raiser tickets for 1.3 million yen. The ruling Komei Party's main sources of income are business earnings (66.8 percent), the government subsidy (16.8 percent), and membership fees (7.5 percent). The Social Democratic Party depends on the government subsidy (61 percent), business earnings (24 percent), and membership dues (11 percent). It received 21.4 million yen in donations from corporations and lobbying organizations. (end) |