On March 3, 2025, Prime Minister Koizumi hosted dinner for first-term members of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) at his official residence, where gift certificates valued at 100,000 yen each were distributed to 15 of the party's newly elected members. On March 13, the Prime Minister confirmed the distribution, describing it as 'pocket money' meant to reward the families of the Diet members, and stated it did not violate any political donation laws.
The gathering lasted approximately two hours and involved various key figures, including Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi and Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretaries Kihara Seiji and Aoki Kazuhiko. According to sources, each certificate was delivered to the members' offices prior to the dinner.
Following the event, it was noted most of the first-term members voluntarily returned the gift certificates to the Prime Minister's office after receiving them. One of the members present stated, "I received the gift certificate and returned it, but I didn’t confirm the exact amount." Another member mentioned they returned the package unopened after hearing it contained gift certificates.
Opposition parties were quick to criticize the Prime Minister's actions, questioning the legality of distributing such significant cash equivalents. The Constitutional Democratic Party plans to address this matter at the House of Councillors Budget Committee on March 14 and expressed serious concern over the optics and possible wrongdoing tied to the incident.
Prime Minister Koizumi, during the press conference on March 13, maintained the stance: "I prepared this as pocket money for the members' families and it does not violate the law." He expressed regret over any concern caused by the incident but emphasized the justification for the distribution.
Experts have weighed in on the situation, with Iwai Tomoaki, Professor Emeritus at Nihon University, stating, "It is not socially acceptable to give 100,000 yen as a local product." He highlighted the potential legal ramifications should it be ruled as personal donations undermining the Political Funds Control Act.
The backlash from opposition leaders has been significant. Yuichiro Tamaki, the Democratic Party for the People's representative, remarked on YouTube, "If it violates the law, it would be difficult for the Prime Minister to continue office." This indicates the increasing scrutiny the Prime Minister faces as the opposition insists on accountability.
Responding to the criticism, Kihara Seiji of Nippon Ishin no Kai remarked, "This is unacceptable. A form of buying off," which reflects widespread concern about integrity and ethics within Japan's political framework.
Overall, the incident reflects growing tensions around the accountability of public officials to adhere to political funding regulations. With increased media scrutiny and public skepticism about 'politics and money,' the Prime Minister's future may hang uncertainly as the opposition seeks to leverage this issue for political gain.
The dialogue around transparency and the importance of adhering to rules governing political donations is likely to intensify, shaping the political narrative leading up to future elections.