Japanese PM Takaichi submits statement over smear video scandal, criticized for denial, delay

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Wednesday submitted a written statement by her secretary to parliament, denying allegations that her campaign team had created and distributed videos smearing political rivals, which drew criticism from opposition parties and the public.

In the statement submitted to the chairman of the Budget Committee of the House of Representatives, Takaichi's publicly funded first secretary acknowledged having attended a brief online meeting with the man alleged to have made the videos ahead of last year's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership race. However, the secretary denied asking the man to create or distribute videos defaming other candidates.

Responding to allegations that he had sent emails during the House of Representatives election campaign, commissioned the production of smear videos and expressed gratitude to their producer, the secretary said, "I have found no such records, nor do I recall any such thing."

Also on Wednesday, Akira Nagatsuma, a lawmaker from the Centrist Reform Alliance, again demanded that the secretary involved be summoned to testify before the Diet, Japan's parliament.

He also called for the lower house's Budget Committee to convene for special deliberations on the smear video allegations after the current parliamentary session adjourns.

Since May, Japanese weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun has published a series of reports citing emails, audio recordings and other evidence, alleging that Takaichi's campaign team used artificial intelligence technology to produce and spread a large number of videos defaming rival candidates during last year's LDP leadership race and this year's House of Representatives election.

On June 22, while responding to questions from opposition lawmakers in the Diet, Takaichi said her secretary would submit a written statement to parliament "in the coming days."

However, the statement was not submitted until about one month later, just before the close of the current Diet session, prompting renewed criticism that Takaichi had deliberately delayed her response in an attempt to evade accountability.

Ukeru Magosaki, a former Japanese foreign ministry official, said the secretary's admission that he had held an online meeting with the individual involved contradicted Takaichi's previous statements before the Diet denying any connection between the two, raising suspicions that Takaichi made false statements.

Former House of Representatives member Ichiro Ozawa criticized the statement as riddled with phrases such as "I don't know," "I don't remember," and "no such records," saying such explanations were far-fetched and only deepened public suspicion. He called for the secretary to be summoned to testify before parliament.

In the comment sections of related news reports, some Japanese internet users accused Takaichi of trying to stall until the end of the Diet session and let the issue fade away. They described her handling of the matter as hypocritical and contemptible, with some calling for her to step down as soon as possible.