November 5, 2025

Fujita Fumitake, co-leader of the “Nippon Ishin no Kai” party, at a press conference in the Diet building on November 4, admitted that he had funneled public funds, including government subsidies to political parties, back to a private company headed by his first state-funded secretary.

The Akahata Sunday Edition (November 2 issue) reported on allegations concerning the public funds paid to that company.

Fujita, however, added, “From now on, I won’t respond to any questions from the Communist Party of Japan or Akahata.”

After the Akahata Sunday Edition’s report, Fujita posted an image of the Sunday Akahata reporter’s business card online. Subsequently, multiple calls demanding “Put that reporter on the line” were made to the direct phone line of the Akahata Sunday Edition head office, and a large volume of spam emails were sent to the reporter.

The Akahata and Sunday Edition editors-in-chief demanded that Fujita delete the business card image from his post and issue an apology, but Fujita at the press conference stated that he does not intend to do so.

Following the press conference, JCP Secretariat Head Koike Akira stated that Fujita “did not sincerely provide an explanation for the serious allegations.”

Koike also criticized Fujita for publishing the reporter’s business card online, stating, “Business cards contain personal information. Exposing them without their consent constitutes a violation of privacy. Posting them online is an intimidation tactic against journalists who report critically on those with power.”