Scandal Hits Takaichi Administration: Top Aide Accused of Funding Affair with Public Business Trip Expenses

Tadashi Motegi, a secretary to the Chief Cabinet Secretary and known as one of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's closest aides, is facing intense scrutiny on social media following reports of habitual "fraudulent business trips" funded by taxpayers. According to reports, last year, while serving as the Chief International Exhibition Coordinating Officer for the Osaka-Kansai Expo, Motegi allegedly used official business trips to Osaka as opportunities to invite a woman with whom he was having an extramarital affair to stay at his hotels. These questionable trips involving overnight stays occurred at least five times, raising suspicions that he only paid hotel fees for a single guest despite having a companion.

Motegi is a bureaucrat who has long enjoyed the deep trust of Prime Minister Takaichi, having previously served as her secretary during her tenure as State Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. His appointment to his current role in the Prime Minister's official residence (Kantei) was reportedly a personal pick by Takaichi herself. Consequently, this scandal involving the conflation of public and private matters at the heart of government has sparked a torrent of criticism online, with users writing comments like "What do they think our hard-earned tax money is?" and "They are doing whatever they want." Many have also pointed out that his actions may violate Article 99 of the National Public Service Act, which prohibits conduct that damages public trust.

Given that the allegations date back to his time in a key role related to the upcoming Osaka-Kansai Expo, there are growing concerns about the negative impact this could have on both the Expo's image and the administration's governance. On the other hand, some cautious voices on social media argue that "at this stage, these are still just allegations, and we should wait for the facts to be clarified." Nevertheless, this controversy surrounding a top aide's private life and the handling of public funds is bound to become a major headache for the Takaichi administration.

The Context

Sanae Takaichi is a prominent conservative politician in Japan, known for her strong stance on security and economic policies. In Japanese politics, the Chief Cabinet Secretary's office and the Prime Minister's official residence (the Kantei) represent the absolute core of executive power, making any scandal involving staff there highly sensitive.

Furthermore, the Osaka-Kansai Expo, scheduled for 2025, has already been a target of public frustration in Japan due to ballooning construction costs and delays. Allegations that a top coordinator for the Expo was using taxpayer-funded business trips to facilitate an extramarital affair add fuel to an already controversial national project, compounding the political damage for the administration.