May 14, 2026

The Metropolitan Police Department on May 13 referred a man in his early 50s to prosecutors on suspicion of threatening a reporter of the Akahata Sunday edition.

The incident began after Fujita Fumitake, a co-leader of the “Nippon Ishin no Kai” party, posted on his X account an image of the business card of the reporter who had revealed Fujita’s alleged misuse of public funds.

The suspect in his social media post quoted Fujita’s post and wrote, “Since your face is all over the place, you better watch your back and front, left and right, so you won’t get stabbed for getting cocky,” thereby physically threatening the reporter by name. Fujita has yet to delete the image of the business card from the Internet.

Last month, the intimidator visited the Japanese Communist Party head office with his lawyer and apologized to the reporter. He admitted that Fujita’s post had prompted him to post the threatening message.

Yamazaki Toru, a former vice president of the Saitama Bar Association, in an Akahata interview stated that Fujita’s act of exposing the business card of the reporter who had investigated the allegations against Fujita “could reasonably be seen as intended to serve as provoking a ‘retaliation’ or having a ‘dog-whistle effect’.”

Lawyer Yamazaki stated that Fujita’s post likely falls under Article 709 of the Civil Code which stipulates, “A person who has intentionally or negligently infringed upon the rights or legally protected interests of another person is liable to pay compensation for the resulting damage.” He added, “Fujita should promptly delete the image of the business card and sincerely reflect on his harassment of the reporter.”

Past related articles:
> Akahata editorial dept. files complaint against threatener targeting Sunday Akahata reporter [November 15, 2025]
> ‘Ishin’ party co-head admits to misuse of public funds [November 5, 2025]
> Sunday Akahata reporter who reports on Ishin co-head’s money scandal harassed online [November 4, 2025]