TOKYO, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is facing intensifying political headwinds after distributing congratulatory gifts to more than 300 ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) lawmakers who won seats in the recent House of Representatives election, a move that critics say may violate Japan's Political Funds Control Law and further erode public trust in her leadership.
The revelation has sparked sharp backlash from opposition parties and drawn renewed scrutiny over Takaichi's past political funding issues. The matter could slow down parliamentary deliberations on the fiscal 2026 budget, which the Takaichi administration seeks to pass as soon as possible.
CONTROVERSY DEEPENS
Many Japanese media outlets reported on Tuesday that following this month's lower house election, Takaichi sent gift catalogs to each of her party's 315 lawmakers. The catalogs list gifts that they could order at a cost of about 30,000 yen (192 U.S. dollars) per person -- for a total of roughly 10 million yen. The catalogs reportedly bore the word "Congratulations" and the prime minister's name "Sanae Takaichi" on the cover.
The move could run afoul of Japan's Political Funds Control Law, which bans personal donations to politicians, according to the reports.
Takaichi acknowledged the distribution on social media and defended herself during questioning in a parliamentary session on Wednesday. She said the gifts were meant to express appreciation to newly elected lawmakers and were funded not personally but by political funds of the local LDP chapter in Nara Prefecture which she heads.
Her explanation has failed to quell criticism. Opposition lawmakers and experts accused her of using party funds to bolster her personal political standing, being out of touch with ordinary citizens and acting with arrogance.
Shunichi Mizuoka, leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, said it was unacceptable to treat a party branch as "the prime minister's wallet," adding that the matter provoked "an anger that is hard to suppress."
Koji Nakakita, a professor at Chuo University, said the amount involved was already substantial and raised suspicions that party organizational resources were being diverted for private use.
While Junya Ogawa, leader of the Centrist Reform Alliance, argued that distributing expensive gifts to ruling party lawmakers while households grapple with rising living costs "reflects the old culture of the LDP."
Motohisa Furukawa, who heads the Diet affairs committee of the Democratic Party for the People, told a press conference that Takaichi's latest behavior "only deepens public distrust in politics" and that the LDP's election victory might have made her "big-headed."
Some LDP members, quoted by Asahi Shimbun, privately expressed concern that Takaichi may have developed a sense that "anything can be forgiven" after securing electoral victory, while others pointed to a clear gap between her sense of money and that of ordinary citizens.
LONG-STANDING QUESTIONS
The latest revelation surfaced amid lingering public distrust over money and politics, and revived attention to Takaichi's past political funding controversies.
Takaichi has previously faced allegations of exploiting a political donation refund mechanism in 2012 to transfer branch funds under her own name, as well as replacing receipts to correct an omission in a 2021 political funds report. In December last year, she was also accused of accepting a political donation that exceeded the legal maximum.
Her approach to the LDP's slush fund scandal that came to light in late 2023 also drew criticism. Although the party disciplined lawmakers implicated in the scandal under public pressure, Takaichi appointed seven figures linked to the issue to key government posts after taking office.
Japanese media also reported that groups linked to the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, formerly known as the Unification Church, had provided funds to an LDP branch associated with Takaichi through the purchase of political fundraising party tickets.
The Unification Church came under intense public scrutiny following the 2022 assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. South Korean media recently reported that Takaichi's name appeared 32 times in an internal document of the religious group.
During the recent lower house campaign, Takaichi drew media attention for canceling at the last minute a televised party leaders' debate, citing a hand injury, a move some critics suggested helped her avoid questions about political funding and ties to religious organizations.
POTENTIAL IMPACT
Analysts said the immediate impact of the gift-giving controversy is likely to be felt in parliament, where deliberations on the fiscal 2026 budget are underway.
Takaichi's abrupt dissolution of the lower house and snap election delayed parliamentary proceedings and disrupted opposition plans to question her over political funding and Unification Church-related issues. The controversy now gives the opposition fresh ammunition, potentially complicating her bid to swiftly pass the new fiscal year budget before the end of March.
Political observers noted that public distrust, fueled by past funding scandals, has lingered since the LDP's slush fund revelations. The latest episode, they said, once again puts Takaichi's political credibility under the spotlight.
As one LDP lawmaker told Kyodo News, the issue concerns not only Takaichi personally but also the party's broader image -- and if the controversy drags on, it could gradually erode public support, complicating her governing prospects. ■