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August 11, 2026
 

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HAKUBUN SHIMOMURA

Former Liberal Democratic Party policy chief Hakubun Shimomura had sought to resume kickbacks from party fundraising revenues, according to the testimony of a former faction accountant to the Tokyo District Court on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 26, 2025
Shimomura asked for resumption of kickbacks, LDP ex-accountant testifies
The former LDP policy chief suggested that former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had agreed to resume the practice, former Abe faction accountant Junichiro Matsumoto said.
Hakubun Shimomura speaks as a witness at a meeting of the Budget Committee of the House of Representatives on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Politics
May 28, 2025
LDP¡¯s Shimomura denies he ordered kickbacks to resume in 2022
In a hearing in February, a former chief accountant of a now-defunct faction said ¡°a faction executive¡± asked for the kickback system to restart in July 2022.
Koichi Hagiuda thanks his supporters early Monday in Tokyo after his victory in Sunday's general election became certain.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 28, 2024
60% of ¡®slush fund¡¯ candidates lose in Japan Lower House poll
The severe outcome reflected renewed criticism against the LDP that arose in the final stage of the election campaign.
The Liberal Democratic Party's poor showing in Sunday's Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly by-elections likely won't have any decisive impact on the standing of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 8, 2024
Tokyo by-elections setback a blow to the LDP, but maybe not to Kishida
Sunday¡¯s poor performance might not have much impact on the prime minister¡¯s prospects for reelection as LDP president.
Former Liberal Democratic Party policy chief Hakubun Shimomura attends a Lower House plenary session on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 3, 2024
LDP eyes membership suspension for Shimomura and Nishimura
It also plans to ask Shionoya and Seko to leave the party over the slush funds scandal involving certain factions.
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 18, 2024
Shimomura testimony fails to shed light on LDP funds scandal
Former Liberal Democratic Party policy chief Hakubun Shimomura had hinted that he would finally provide some answers to key questions.
There are growing calls within the LDP to query former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori (left) over his possible involvement in the scandal. While Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has said that the party would discuss hearing directly from those involved, he did not offer specific examples of who he had in mind.
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 15, 2024
Shimomura to testify amid growing calls to query Mori over funds scandal
The former LDP policy chief¡¯s testimony before an ethics committee could pressure the ex-PM to disclose what he knows about the kickback scheme.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Sep 4, 2021
Suga¡¯s abrupt exit throws LDP race wide open
With Suga¡¯s withdrawal from the race, a significant obstacle has been removed for leading LDP hopefuls to enter the contest.
JAPAN / Politics / EXPLAINER
Aug 27, 2021
Off to the races: LDP presidential election campaign begins
A number of challengers to Suga are beginning to emerge, with Fumio Kishida currently being the prime minister¡¯s strongest rival.
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 26, 2021
Fumio Kishida enters LDP leadership race as party sets voting plan
The former foreign minister has some advantages over potential candidates, but he would need the backing of Shinzo Abe and Taro Aso to stand a real chance.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Aug 26, 2021
LDP leadership election: Suga has a target on his back
As LDP heavyweights jockey for position ahead of the party¡¯s presidential election, one thing for sure is there is a target on Prime Minister Suga¡¯s back.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Aug 25, 2021
As his appeal wanes, can Suga be more than a caretaker prime minister?
Setbacks in by-elections, a lack of a political boost from the Olympics and criticism of his demeanor have put Suga on the back foot as he heads into an LDP presidential race.
JAPAN / ANALYSIS
Aug 23, 2021
Loss by Suga ally in Yokohama election rattles the LDP
The prime minister¡¯s position has become even more precarious, with questions growing within the LDP over whether he should lead the party into an upcoming general election.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Aug 5, 2021
Explosive COVID-19 surge rekindles debate over lockdowns in Japan
The idea of harsher restrictions and penalties has become a political football, with conservatives arguing constitutional revision is needed to enhance the government¡¯s powers.
JAPAN / Politics
Feb 5, 2021
Budget talks overshadowed as more issues pile up for Suga
There is mounting pressure on the prime minister on issues ranging from a potential ethics violation involving a family member to sexist remarks by the Tokyo Games chair.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 24, 2020
Japan weighs ?10 trillion extra budget to counter coronavirus, report says
The government may extend a domestic travel subsidy system but is unlikely to offer more direct cash handouts to households, the newspaper reported.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Oct 10, 2020
Japan may need to consider compiling third extra budget, senior LDP lawmaker says
Japan may need to consider compiling another extra budget to help its economy if the current reserve fund is not enough to respond to the coronavirus pandemic, a senior Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker said.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Jul 15, 2017
Fundraising loopholes, a political norm
The Liberal Democratic Party lost a large number of seats to Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike¡¯s upstart Tomin First Party in the Tokyo assembly election. Media surveys reveal that the public is dismayed by recent scandals involving the LDP, in particular the one surrounding educational company Kake Gakuen, which...
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 29, 2017
Ex-education minister Shimomura denies media report claiming undeclared Kake donations
Shimomura responds to a Shukan Bunshun report that he allegedly received u00a52 million in undisclosed payments from scandal-tainted school operator.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 22, 2017
LDP lawmakers take to the kitchen to promote female workplace empowerment
From veterans to rookies, male lawmakers from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party sliced tomatoes, grilled salmon and fried chicken as they exemplified ways in which husbands can share in household duties during a political event on Wednesday promoting female participation in the workplace.
America¡¯s cyberforces grapple with cluster of deaths by suicide
The U.S. Cyber Command building (center) stands on the National Security Agency campus at Fort Meade, Maryland.
Many Indonesians named after Japanese anime characters
Some people in Indonesia are named Doraemon, the name of a lead character of the blockbuster anime series with the same title.
Yasukuni Shrine introduces ban on military attire and cosplay
People gather in front of thousands of lanterns on display at Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on July 15 during the Mitama Matsuri, one of the capital's largest summer o-Bon festivals.
As countries ban social media for children, Japan mulls a different approach
Data from NTT Docomo¡¯s Mobile Society Research Institute released in June found that 55% of respondents across all age groups said they fiddled with their phones when they had nothing to do, even when another person was in front of them.
¡®Total whiplash¡¯: Foreign residents react to Â鶹´«Ã½ changing permanent residency rules
The entrance to the Tokyo Immigration Bureau in Minato Ward, Tokyo, in March. For some foreign residents of Japan, tightening measures for permanent residency have become one factor in a broader calculation over whether remaining in the country makes financial sense over the long term.
¡®Total whiplash¡¯: Foreign residents react to Â鶹´«Ã½ changing permanent residency rules
The entrance to the Tokyo Immigration Bureau in Minato Ward, Tokyo, in March. For some foreign residents of Japan, tightening measures for permanent residency have become one factor in a broader calculation over whether remaining in the country makes financial sense over the long term.
As Â鶹´«Ã½ concrete jungles sizzle, urban forestry offers an all-natural fix
People and birds find relief from the sun in Tokyo's Nakano Ward earlier this month. While experts agree that urban greening is crucial to mitigating the impact of climate change, trees are becoming even more scarce in Japanese cities.
Â鶹´«Ã½ brewers experiment with a secret ingredient: music
At Smoke Craft, a craft beer brewery in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, music isn't just a background to the brewing process ¡ª it's an ingredient.
As countries ban social media for children, Japan mulls a different approach
Data from NTT Docomo¡¯s Mobile Society Research Institute released in June found that 55% of respondents across all age groups said they fiddled with their phones when they had nothing to do, even when another person was in front of them.
J. League enters new era as league kicks off first fall-spring campaign
Players from each J. League club pose during a kickoff event on Monday ahead of the start of the 2026-27 campaign.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo¡¯s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo¡¯s ¡®stadium of desire¡¯

Longform

Disaster relief workers Taichi Kato (left) and Seiji Yoshimura enter the collapsed living quarters at Kyuganji temple in Yatsushiro, Kumamoto Prefecture.
What Kumamoto revealed about Â鶹´«Ã½ earthquake readiness
By Alex K.T. Martin

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