The Japan TimesOct 21, 2025
Minoru Kihara, the “cool-headed” spokesman of Japan’s new prime minister, has many things in common with his new boss. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/10/21/japan/politics/who-is-minoru-kihara/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #minorukihara #sanaetakaichi #ldp #shinzoabe #yoshihidesuga #fumiokishida #hirokazumatsuno #shigeruishiba #yoshimasahayashi #kumamoto #taiwan
Who is Minoru Kihara, Takaichi’s new 'cool-headed' spokesman?

The former defense minister has many things in common with Japan’s first female prime minister.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesJul 24, 2024
Japan's chief cabinet secretary has access to a secret stash of classified funds that can be used with no public explanation needed — and rumors are brewing that it may be a hotbed for misappropriation. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/07/24/japan/politics/cabinet-classifed-funds/ #japan #politics #hirokazumatsuno #politicalfunds #fumiokishida #cabinet #corruption #muneosuzuki #soichirotahara #kakueitanaka
Why Japan's mysterious stash of classified funds escapes scrutiny

The funds can be used by the chief cabinet secretary with no explanation needed, fueling speculation of widespread misappropriation.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesMar 1, 2024
Japan's parliament descended into chaos over the schedule for budget approval as senior members of a scandal-tainted Liberal Democratic Party faction stuck to a defensive stance in their testimony before a Lower House ethics committee on Friday. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/03/01/japan/politics/ethics-committee-budget-chaos/ #japan #politics #diet #ldp #politicalfunds #yasutoshinishimura #hirokazumatsuno
As ethics hearing unfolds, Diet falls into chaos over budget approval

The CDP sought to censure budget committee leader Itsunori Onodera over his decision to push through a final vote, and argued for more extensive debate.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesFeb 27, 2024
As parliament prepares to convene an ethics committee later this week to question LDP members over a political funds scandal, here's what you need to know about the panel. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/02/27/japan/politics/politics-ethics-committee-explained/ #japan #politics #diet #ldp #politicalfunds #yasutoshinishimura #hirokazumatsuno #tsuyoshitakagi #makikotanaka #yukiohatoyama
What to know about the ethics committee probing the LDP funds scandal

When the committee convenes later this week, at least five senior ruling party officials are expected to testify on what they knew about the scandal.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesFeb 22, 2024
A Lower House ethics committee is set to be convened next week to probe the background of a LDP slush-funds scandal — possibly behind closed doors. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/02/22/japan/politics/ethics-committee-funds-scandal/ #japan #politics #diet #cdp #ldp #politicalfunds #yasutoshinishimura #hirokazumatsuno #tsuyoshitakagi
Committee probing LDP funds scandal set to open next week

The committee will likely gather next Wednesday and Thursday to interrogate five senior LDP lawmakers over their involvement in a kickback scheme.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesFeb 21, 2024
Three senior members of the Liberal Democratic Party caught up in a political slush-fund scandal agreed Wednesday to appear before a Lower House ethics committee that will be convened next week. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/02/21/japan/politics/ethics-hearing-senior-ldp-members/ #japan #politics #diet #cdp #ldp #politicalfunds #yasutoshinishimura #hirokazumatsuno #tsuyoshitakagi #junazumi
Senior LDP members likely to appear before ethics committee next week

While the opposition said the willingness of additional LDP figures to answer questions was an improvement, they called for more to step up.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesDec 25, 2023
Multiple secretaries of lawmakers belonging to the Abe faction said during voluntary questioning that the omissions of reports regarding kickbacks were based on the faction's instructions. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/12/25/japan/abe-faction-failed-to-withdraw-kickbacks/?utm_content=buffer06a89&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #japan #ldp #politicalfunds #hirokazumatsuno #shinzoabe
LDP's top faction withdrew decision to abolish kickbacks

A special squad suspects that senior faction officials knew of the apparent mechanism of the kickbacks and attempted to correct the situation.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesDec 24, 2023
With investigations into an LDP political funds scandal in full swing, Yoshimasa Hayashi started his new job as chief Cabinet secretary in a prudent manner. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/12/24/japan/politics/hayashi-maneuvers-thru-chief-cabinet-secretary-job/?utm_content=bufferc2f75&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #japan #politics #yoshimasahayashi #fumiokishida #ldp #hirokazumatsuno #politicalfunds
Hayashi maneuvers through his new Cabinet position carefully

Hayashi has served in many Cabinet posts in the past, including defense minister, agriculture minister and education minister.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesDec 13, 2023
As the fallout from the Liberal Democratic Party's political funds scandal continues to spread, all discussion in Japan's political world is centered on who Fumio Kishida will turn to after the expected exits of four key ministers, including his right-hand man. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/12/13/japan/politics/kishida-matsuno-replacement/?utm_content=buffer4ebcc&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #japan #politics #fumiokishida #ldp #hirokazumatsuno
Focus turns to replacements as scandal-hit LDP ministers face ax

In a news conference Wednesday evening, Fumio Kishida said he would make replacements the following day but declined to comment on the details

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesDec 12, 2023
Parliament may be wrapping up its current session Wednesday, but the investigation into a Liberal Democratic Party funds scandal looks likely to deepen in the coming days. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/12/12/japan/politics/fund-scandal-deepens-kishida/?utm_content=buffer10173&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #japan #politics #hirokazumatsuno #ldp #politicalfunds #fumiokishida #cdp #cabinet #corruption
Funding scandal deepens as parliament session draws to a close

The probe into a Liberal Democratic Party funds scandal looks likely to deepen in the coming days, making the political scene increasingly unpredictable.

The Japan Times