Ishin Lawmaker Suspected of Fraud

The Special Investigation Division of Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office made search in the offices of Akira Ishii, Upper House member of Japan Innovation Party (Nippon Ishin-no Kai). Ishii is suspected as involved in a fraud of receiving reward for his secretarie who had not actually been working for him. Although Ishin has been active in promoting political reform, the case proves that Ishin is one of the old-type parties with scandals of political money. 

The Diet Law provides that a lawmaker can have three public secretaries: policy secretary, first secretary and second secretary. The salary of those public secretaries is paid from national budget. Monthly payment varies depending on age or length on the job, ranging from 330 to 650 thousand yen. The lawmaker reports the name of three secretaries to the Diet. Annual income amounts between 7 to 13 million yen.

 

Ishii is doubted as falsely received 8 million yen. One of Ishii’s secretaries had no record of working as public secretary, causing fraud of receiving salary from the government for no work. The secretary is said to have retired. Ishii is supposed to have received his secretary’s salary. The prosecutors’ office is going to investigate how Ishii spent the money.

 

There have been six cases in which a lawmaker falsely received secretary’s salary. In the case of Yojiro Nakajima (LDP) in 1998, the lawmaker received 10.3 million yen. Jouji Yamamoto (DPJ) was found guilty and was sentenced 18 months in prison with charge of receiving 25.5 million yen as secretary’s salary. The lawmakers involved in that kind of fraud were with major parties, such as leading Liberal Democratic Party or then top opposition, Democratic Party of Japan.

 

To restrict that kind of fraud, the Diet revised the law for lawmaker’s secretary in 2004. The revision included banning appointment of spouse of lawmaker as secretary, restriction for a secretary to have another job or direct payment of salary to secretaries. However, actual management has been unchecked, and Megumi Hirose (LDP) was indicted with charge of taking 3.6 million yen as secretary’s salary in 2024.

 

Ishii made the first case of false reception of secretary’s salary in Ishin. Ishin has been selling itself as a party for political reform, promoting reforms with self-sacrifice of each lawmaker. Ishii’s case must harm Ishin’s reputation as a reform party. “It cannot be tolerated. The case constitutes expulsion from our party and he should resign as a lawmaker, if it is true” said the head of Ishin, Hirofumi Yoshimura.

 

Ishin significantly reduced its seats in the Lower House election in 2024. Total votes received for its proportional district in the Upper House election in July 2025 marked the lowest record of the party. Members of Ishin are worried about further decline of power as a conservative opposition party.

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