## Toshihiro Nikai Announces Retirement Amidst Scandal
Toshihiro Nikai, a veteran politician and kingmaker within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), announced on March 25th that he will not seek re-election. This decision comes amidst a growing scandal involving unreported political donations within his faction.
Nikai, 85, expressed deep regret for the distrust caused by the scandal and acknowledged his responsibility as the leader of the faction. He stated that he had informed Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of his decision not to run in the upcoming Lower House election.
The scandal centered around the failure of the Nikai faction to report 35.26 million yen ($233,000) in donations over the past five years. This constituted the largest unreported sum among incumbent LDP Diet members.
Nikai's decision was met with mixed reactions from his constituents. Some expressed gratitude for his long service and the improvements he brought to their community. Others, however, felt that he had not adequately addressed the scandal and should have retired earlier.
Nikai's retirement marks the end of a long and influential career in Japanese politics. He served as the longest-serving secretary-general in the Abe and Suga administrations and was known for his ability to bridge factions within the LDP. His departure leaves a significant void in the party's leadership and raises questions about the future direction of the Nikai faction.