Key Facts
• A video of Shinjiro Koizumi without a seatbelt went viral on July 1, 2025.
• The video shows Koizumi leaning out of a car window, waving to the public.
• The video was filmed during the 2024 House of Representatives election period.
• During election campaigns, candidates are exempt from seatbelt requirements by law.
• The video was originally posted on October 19, 2024, during the election campaign.
• The 2024 election period ran from October 15 (announcement) to October 27 (voting).
• Koizumi ran in Kanagawa’s 11th district and won the election.
• The video has over 1.2 million views and 1,100 reposts as of July 1, 2025.
• “Box riding” (leaning out of a car) is not clearly defined or regulated by law.
• Some municipalities, like Hakodate and Kochi, discourage such behavior for safety reasons.
Summary
A viral video of Shinjiro Koizumi allegedly riding without a seatbelt outside the election period has been debunked. The footage was taken during the 2024 House of Representatives election campaign, where candidates are legally exempt from seatbelt requirements. The video, originally posted on October 19, 2024, shows Koizumi leaning out of a car window, a practice known as “box riding.” While not illegal, some municipalities discourage this behavior due to safety concerns. The video has garnered significant attention, with over 1.2 million views and 1,100 reposts as of July 1, 2025.
