Key Facts
• July 12, 2025: Sanseitō issued an apology for a candidate’s social media post.
• The post was made on X (formerly Twitter) by an official party account.
• Candidate Saya, running in Tokyo’s electoral district, was involved.
• Saya replied to a third-party post suggesting votes in exchange for food.
• Her reply included phrases like “I am full of gratitude” and “I will do my best.”
• Both the original post and her reply have since been deleted.
• Sanseitō stated the candidate’s actions may violate Japan’s Public Offices Election Act.
• The act prohibits offering food or drinks to voters during election campaigns.
• The party cited the candidate’s lack of awareness as the cause of the issue.
• Saya also posted a personal apology on her account.
Summary
Sanseitō apologized on July 12, 2025, for a social media post by its Tokyo electoral district candidate, Saya, which may have violated Japan’s Public Offices Election Act. The controversy arose after Saya replied to a third-party post on X (formerly Twitter) that implied votes could be exchanged for food. Her response, expressing gratitude and determination, was deemed inappropriate. Both the original post and her reply were deleted. The party attributed the incident to the candidate’s lack of awareness and emphasized its commitment to compliance. Saya also issued a personal apology.
