MIC orders Nippon Ishin no Kai to return 12.9 million yen

In the Official Gazette published on September 25, 2026, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) issued MIC Notice No. 356, ordering the return of political party subsidies based on the Political Party Subsidies Act: 12,901,707 yen from the Japan Innovation Party and 100 yen from the Inochi Party. The notice was promulgated in the name of Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications Hayayuki Fujii, and serves to publicly announce the order for return, the names of the political parties, and the amounts of the subsidies to be returned, pursuant to the provisions of Article 33, Paragraph 7 of the Political Party Subsidies Act.

The Political Party Subsidies Act (Act No. 5 of 1994) mandates that political parties report the use of subsidies provided by the state and establishes a framework where the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications orders the return of funds if legal requirements are met. Article 33 is the legal basis for return orders, and Paragraph 7 of said article requires that the party name and the amount to be returned be announced via public notice when an order is issued. This notice was published in the Official Gazette in accordance with this procedure, formally finalizing the obligation to return the funds.

Return Order Amount for Japan Innovation Party: 12,901,707 Yen

Name of Political Party: Japan Innovation Party
Ordered Return Amount of Political Party Subsidy: 12,901,707 yen
Reason: Due to falling under Article 33, Paragraph 2, Item 4 of the Political Party Subsidies Act

The notice lists the name, return amount, and applicable clause for each political party; for the Japan Innovation Party, a return of approximately 12.9 million yen was ordered. The amount was calculated in relation to the reports and requirements regarding the use of political party subsidies, although the notice itself does not show the calculation process.

100 Yen for Inochi Party; Applicable Clause Differs

Name of Political Party: Inochi Party
Ordered Return Amount of Political Party Subsidy: 100 yen
Reason: Due to falling under Article 33, Paragraph 2, Item 2 of the Political Party Subsidies Act

While both orders are based on the same paragraph of the same article, the applicable items differ. Although the return amount for the Inochi Party is a small sum of 100 yen, as it is subject to the notice, the party name and amount are publicized in the Official Gazette.

Same Day’s Official Gazette Also Includes Correction Notice for LDP Branch Reports

In the same Official Gazette dated September 25, MIC Notice No. 355 was published, reporting corrections to the branch reports and summary documents regarding the use of branch political party subsidies submitted by the Liberal Democratic Party. This corrects a portion of MIC Notice No. 271 of 2024 (regarding the publication of summaries of submitted reports on the use of political party subsidies), specifically removing a note attached to the Liberal Democratic Party Gifu Prefecture House of Councillors Electoral District 3rd Branch stating that part of the breakdown of expenditures could not be listed because related documents had been seized.

The same day’s Official Gazette also included descriptions regarding the accounting reports of political parties, such as the breakdown of expenditures from political party subsidies and expenditures from branch political party subsidies; thus, the return order and the correction of the reports were published within the same issue.

The return order is part of a mechanism to control the use of public funds provided to political parties. Regardless of the amount, the party name and the amount to be returned are publicized in the Official Gazette, allowing voters and the press to verify the details after the fact. The Nippon Ishin no Kai has incurred a return obligation of approximately 12.9 million yen, and the responses of both parties, including the Inochi no To, will be the focus moving forward.

Sources

Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Notice No. 356 (Order for Return of Political Party Subsidies), Official Gazette, September 25, Reiwa 8, Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications Hayayuki Fujii
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Notice No. 355 (Correction of Reports on the Use of Political Party Subsidies, etc.), Official Gazette, September 25, Reiwa 8, Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications Hayayuki Fujii
Legal Basis: Political Party Subsidies Act (Act No. 5 of 1994), Article 33, Paragraph 7