Key Facts
• August 27, 2025: Tokyo prosecutors raided Ishii Akira’s local and parliamentary offices.
• Ishii allegedly defrauded the government of approximately 8 million yen in secretary salaries.
• 2021–2022: A welfare organization member was falsely registered as Ishii’s public secretary.
• The welfare organization is based in southern Ibaraki Prefecture, where Ishii serves as chairman.
• Prosecutors suspect the registered secretary had no actual work duties.
• August 29, 2025: Ishii announced his resignation and apologized publicly.
• The Japan Innovation Party expelled Ishii on the same day for damaging the party’s reputation.
• Party Secretary-General Nakamura Hiroshi emphasized stricter governance to prevent future scandals.
Summary
Ishii Akira, a member of the Japan Innovation Party and a proportional representation senator, is under investigation for allegedly defrauding the government of 8 million yen in secretary salaries. Prosecutors claim Ishii falsely registered a welfare organization member, where he serves as chairman, as his public secretary from 2021 to 2022, despite no evidence of actual work. On August 27, 2025, Tokyo prosecutors raided Ishii’s offices in Ibaraki and Tokyo, seizing documents for analysis. Ishii announced his resignation on August 29, apologizing for the scandal and pledging full cooperation with the investigation. The Japan Innovation Party expelled Ishii the same day, citing damage to the party’s reputation. Party leaders vowed to enforce stricter governance to prevent similar incidents.
