Opposition Pressures PM to Resign over Voucher Issue; ¥100,000 Gifts Seen as Inappropriately Excessive (Update 1)

The Yomiuri Shimbun

10:49 JST, March 14, 2025 (updated at 17:45 JST, Mar. 14)

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba handed out gift certificates worth ¥100,000 to 15 Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers, it has been learned. Ishiba admitted to what a media report said on the matter late Thursday night, but he denied the gifts were illegal. He repeated that denial on Friday, but opposition parties stepped up pressure for his resignation.

Even within the ruling party, there are bitter complaints that the situation could affect the passage of the fiscal 2025 budget by the end of March. It is inevitable that Ishiba will face increasing difficulties in managing his administration.

Recipients were House of Representatives members who had been elected for the first time and met with Ishiba at the Prime Minister’s Official Residence on the evening of March 3. An aid to the prime minister visited each of their offices to give the vouchers on that occasion.

Ishiba admitted in a media briefing held late Thursday at the official residence that the coupons had been given at his behest and said, “I prepared them from my own money as a token of appreciation for family members [of the lawmakers] in lieu of having dinner together.”

The Political Funds Control Law in principle forbids donations of money or items to individual politicians for their political activities. But Ishiba emphasized the coupons “aren’t a donation related to political activities” and he “sees no legal problems.”

Ishiba also said he had “given out [vouchers] in the past” at similar meetings.

“I apologize for worrying so many people,” Ishiba said.

Several Diet members who attended the gathering said Ishiba’s secretary had visited their offices in the building for lower house members prior to the meeting and handed over the gift certificates. One of them told The Yomiuri Shimbun he appreciated the thought and returned it. Most of the members are believed to have returned the vouchers.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi and deputy chief cabinet secretaries Keiichiro Tachibana and Kazuhiko Aoki also were at the gathering.

As Ishiba entered the Prime Minister’s Office on Friday morning, he stopped and said to reporters: “This is not a donation related to political activities and does not fall under the Political Funds Control Law. There is no one from my constituency among the recipients and there is no violation of the Public Offices Election Law.”

The opposition parties, however, sharply criticized Ishiba’s assertion of his innocence. Democratic Party for the People leader Yuichiro Tamaki, speaking to reporters at the Diet, said: “Is a leader suspected of violating the Political Funds Control Law really qualified to solve the problems of politics and money? If Ishiba cannot clear up the allegations, it will be difficult for him to continue as prime minister.”

Yoshihiko Noda, president of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, said at a press conference: “Compared to socially accepted norms, ¥100,000 worth of vouchers is far too much as a gift. There is no doubt that he has political responsibility.”

Seiji Maehara, coleader of the Japan Innovation Party, which voted in favor of an amendment to the budget bill when it was voted on in the House of Representatives — a vote that showed support for Ishiba — said at a press conference that he would like to “discuss it within our party” regarding a vote in the House of Councillors.

Ahead of the summer elections for the upper house, even some ruling party members have voiced discontent with the current situation.

Komeito leader Tetsuo Saito said at the press conference: “We should refrain from any action that will not be accepted and understood by the public. I hope the prime minister will take the people’s indignation over this matter seriously.”

LDP upper house member Shigeharu Aoyama told reporters in the Diet: “I believe [distributing the gift vouchers] is suspected to be illegal. [Ishiba] should reflect on himself and make a decision including whether or not to continue [as a prime minister].”

The government and ruling parties have had a tough time steering Diet business amid politics and money scandals. Opposition parties have continued to criticize Abe faction members who were found to have failed to report their political funding income and expenditure. The lower house is debating the transparency of political funding from corporate and group donations.