September 22, 2026

Akahata on September 22 revealed that in the October 2024 general election, 217 Liberal Democratic Party candidates, including Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae, had “donated” a total of more than 1.73 billion yen, funded by taxpayers, to themselves from the local LDP chapters they head.

Akahata learned this fact after examining the LDP political funds report for the year 2024.

The seven politicians who “donated” the most to themselves include Yamashita Takashi, Minister of Justice, and Shiozaki Akihisa, State Minister for Digital Transformation and State Minister of Cabinet Office. Each of the seven received 20 million yen.

Other cabinet members who donated to themselves include Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu, Minister of Health, Labor, and Welfare Ueno Ken’ichiro, Minister for Reconstruction Hosono Goshi, Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Fujii Hisayuki, National Public Safety Commission Chairman Hanashi Yasuhiro, and Minister of the Environment Sasagawa Hiroyoshi. They each donated five million yen. Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Akazawa Ryosei donated three million yen to himself.

Government subsidies to political parties are funded by taxpayers’ money. However, there is no requirement to report how these funds are used. They can make large donations to themselves, but how they spent that money remains unchecked and cannot be verified.

Government subsidies are granted to political parties even if citizens do not support them. This system itself violates the constitutional freedom of thought and political belief.

It hinders the independence of political parties by discouraging them from making efforts to raise political funds from individual supporters. Such a system should be called into question.