Key Facts
• November 4, 2025: Fujita Fumitake addressed allegations of tax misuse at a press conference.
• Allegations involve approximately 200 million yen in public funds linked to his secretary’s company.
• Fujita posted a journalist’s business card on social media, sparking privacy concerns.
• The business card included partial personal information, leading to over 5,500 emails to the journalist.
• Fujita claimed the information was public, excluding sensitive details like phone numbers.
• Critics, including former TV Asahi legal head Kyosuke Nishiwaki, questioned the intent behind the post.
• Nishiwaki highlighted growing issues of personal attacks on journalists by politicians.
• Fujita argued the journalist represented a political organization, not a media outlet.
• The Japan Newspaper Publishers and Editors Association condemned such attacks in June 2025.
• Fujita’s actions are seen as targeting individuals rather than organizations, raising concerns about press freedom.
Summary
Fujita Fumitake, co-leader of the Japan Innovation Party, faces scrutiny over allegations of misusing 200 million yen in public funds linked to his secretary’s company. During a November 4 press conference, Fujita defended his actions but drew criticism for posting a journalist’s business card on social media. The post, which included partial personal information, led to a flood of emails to the journalist and raised privacy concerns. Critics, including Kyosuke Nishiwaki, a former TV Asahi legal head, questioned the purpose of targeting an individual journalist rather than the organization. Fujita argued the journalist represented a political group, not a media outlet, but his actions have been criticized as part of a broader trend of personal attacks on journalists. This incident has sparked concerns about press freedom and the potential suppression of media in Japan.
