Mito Kakizawa, a former state minister of justice, was convicted of vote-buying and illegal campaign activities during a mayoral election in Tokyo's Koto Ward. The Tokyo District Court sentenced him to two years in prison, suspended for five years, for violating the Public Offices Election Law.
Presiding Judge Katsuko Mukai stated that Kakizawa's actions undermined trust in the fairness of elections and contributed to political distrust. This ruling marks the first in a case involving nine individuals, including Kakizawa's secretaries, former Koto Ward Mayor Yayoi Kimura, and ward assembly members.
According to the ruling, Kakizawa, then a Lower House member, provided or offered 2.8 million yen to 10 individuals to support Kimura's mayoral campaign. He also used paid online ads on YouTube to seek votes for Kimura, which is prohibited under the Public Offices Election Law.
Kakizawa initially denied the charges but later admitted to the allegations after his arrest in December. At the first hearing of his trial, he expressed remorse for his actions. However, he remained silent during questioning and did not provide details. In his final statement, he acknowledged that his political career had been ruined by this case.