Key Facts
• July 2025: Pachinko chain CEO arrested for promising rewards for election votes.
• 2022: Over 150 employees paid $20–$27 each for voting in prior election.
• 2025: 107 employees promised $20–$27 for voting; 3 executives rearrested.
• Total implicated employees: 203 across 17 stores in Tokyo, Saitama, and Kagoshima.
• Payments disguised as overtime; linked to candidate Kyoji Abe, who lost election.
• Statute of limitations expired for 2022 offenses; 2025 violations under prosecution.
• Tokyo prosecutors indicted three executives for violating election bribery laws.
Summary
The CEO of the pachinko chain “Delpara” and two executives were arrested for promising cash rewards to employees in exchange for votes in Japan’s July 2025 Upper House election. Investigations revealed similar violations in 2022, where over 150 employees were paid $20–$27 each. In 2025, 107 employees were promised similar amounts, disguised as overtime pay, to vote for candidate Kyoji Abe, who ultimately lost. A total of 203 employees across 17 stores were implicated. While the statute of limitations has expired for the 2022 offenses, the 2025 violations are under active prosecution, with three executives now indicted for election bribery.
