Japanese PM's Secretary Takaichi Denies Involvement in Slander Video, Opposition Calls for Him to Be Summoned

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. (DOK Takaich/i 内閣広報室 / Cabinet Public Affairs Office)

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi submitted a statement by her secretary to parliament. The secretary denied being involved in the alleged creation of an anonymous video attacking political opponents, but the opposition considered her explanation insufficient.

Kyodo News, quoted Wednesday, July 22, said Takaichi was under pressure for choosing to submit a statement by her secretary, rather than answering directly a lawmaker's question about the case.

Takaichi's first secretary stated that he, Takaichi's office, and the campaign team had never made or distributed videos that defamed other candidates. He also denied asking third parties to do so.

"I, Takaichi's office, and the campaign team have never made or distributed videos that defame other candidates. We also did not ask third parties to do so," the statement said.

The document was submitted to members of the Liberal Democratic Party or LDP who lead the Lower House Budget Committee or the Japanese House of Representatives on Wednesday.

However, the statement has not eased the pressure. The opposition considers that the content is not much different from Takaichi's previous explanation and is not enough to reveal what really happened.

The alleged slanderous video was first reported by the weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun in late April.

Shukan Bunshun claimed Takaichi's campaign team asked an information technology company to make an anonymous video to attack his rivals in the LDP chairman's election last October and the lower house election in February.

One of the figures who is said to be a target is Shinjiro Koizumi. He is Takaichi's rival in the LDP chairman election and is currently serving as defense minister.

In the video in question, Koizumi was called "incapable". Takaichi's victory in the LDP chairman election then paved the way for him to become prime minister.

Takaichi has denied involvement since early May. However, his explanation of the secretary's role was inconsistent, increasing pressure from the opposition.

On June 22, Takaichi told parliament that she wanted to submit her secretary's statement instead of answering questions directly.

He reasoned that repeated discussions about the case took up too much time and made him sleep less.

In the statement, Takaichi's secretary admitted to having attended an online meeting with the person suspected of making the video before the LDP chairman election.

However, he admitted that he did not remember the details of the conversation.

"I don't recall the details of our conversation," he said.

According to Kyodo News, the opposition even refused to participate in parliamentary discussions as a form of protest against the handling of the case.

After the statement was submitted, the Centrist Reform Alliance, the largest opposition force in the lower house, again asked for Secretary Takaichi to be summoned to parliament.

The alliance also asked the Budget Committee of the lower house to hold a special discussion after the parliamentary session ended this weekend.