PM Takaichi Faces Backlash Over 'No Paid Subscription' Excuse to Evade Diet Scandal Inquiry

During the House of Representatives Budget Committee session on the 4th, opposition lawmakers fiercely grilled Prime Minister Takaichi over allegations that her campaign was involved in mass-posting smear videos. Shinichi Isa, a lawmaker from the centrist reformist group, pressed the Prime Minister to confirm whether a voice in an audio recording—allegedly showing an exchange between the video creator and Takaichi's local secretary—belonged to her secretary, having submitted the question in advance. However, Prime Minister Takaichi refused to verify the audio, claiming she "did not want to become a paid subscriber" to the media outlet. This response has triggered a torrent of criticism both within the Diet and on social media, with critics calling it "contempt of parliament" and an "unprecedented excuse."

"Saw it at 3:30 AM," "Didn't want to pay for a subscription"

The focus of the questioning was audio data released by the prominent weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun. Suspecting that Prime Minister Takaichi's local secretary was involved in the creation of the smear videos, Isa submitted an advance notice of his question and asked, "Do you intend to confirm the identity of the person in the recording?"

In response, Takaichi explained that she had stayed up all night and only reviewed the advance notice after 3:30 AM on the day of the session. She also defended her refusal by saying, "I didn't want to become a paid subscriber to a media outlet that has engaged in image manipulation of someone I've never met." She consistently maintained that she "had not verified" the audio, also citing a lack of time due to the high volume of other questions.

Opposition outraged, demands verification during lunch break

Furious at her response, Isa blasted, "What is the point of submitting advance notices then?" and harshly criticized her evasion as a "childish excuse." Offering to provide the audio data himself, Isa demanded that she "verify it during the lunch break." The committee room descended into temporary chaos, and the matter was ultimately referred to the steering committee for discussion.

"Mocking the Diet" — Outrage floods social media

Voters and internet users watching the live broadcast of the Diet session have also voiced their anger. On social media, posts questioning the Prime Minister's stance rapidly surged, with comments like, "This completely defeats the purpose of advance notices," "It is highly unnatural that she didn't even instruct her staff to check," and "If this is allowed, anyone can just say 'I was too busy to answer.'" The term "advance notice" (事前通告) even trended on social media as the controversy continued to spread.

The Context

In the Japanese National Diet, opposition lawmakers use a system called "advance notice" (jizen tsukoku) to submit their questions to cabinet ministers ahead of time. This practice is designed to ensure that ministers can consult with their ministries, gather accurate facts, and provide constructive, well-prepared answers during committee sessions. Avoiding an advance-noticed question under the guise of lack of time or preparation is widely seen as a major breach of parliamentary etiquette.

The source of the audio in question is Shukan Bunshun, Japan's most notorious and influential weekly investigative magazine, known for breaking massive political and celebrity scandals. The magazine increasingly locks its exclusive audio and documents behind a digital paywall. PM Takaichi's excuse that she could not verify the audio because she refused to pay for a subscription has been widely ridiculed as an absurd and evasive tactic to dodge accountability for a serious campaign scandal.