Key Facts
• January 2025: Former Hyogo Prefectural Assembly member Hideaki Takeuchi passed away.
• November 28, 2025: Takashi Tachibana, NHK Party leader, arrested for defamation.
• December 2, 2025: Kobe District Court rejected Tachibana’s bail request.
• December 8, 2025: Appeal against bail rejection was dismissed.
• December 5, 2025: Allegations of inflated election poster costs surfaced.
• 576 posters were billed at ¥965.25 each, totaling ¥555,984.
• Previous election posters by the same company cost ¥130 per unit.
• December 6, 2025: NHK Party councilor Kanki Fukui admitted acting under Tachibana’s instructions.
• December 9, 2025: Fukui retracted his statement, claiming independent action.
• Legal experts warn of potential witness intimidation linked to Tachibana.
• Tachibana previously stated he could operate remotely even from prison.
Summary
Takashi Tachibana, leader of the NHK Party, remains in detention following defamation charges related to the late Hideaki Takeuchi. His bail requests were denied due to concerns over evidence tampering and undue influence on witnesses. Allegations of inflated election poster costs involving NHK Party councilor Kanki Fukui have further complicated the case. Fukui initially claimed he acted under Tachibana’s instructions but later retracted his statement. Legal experts suggest these developments could reinforce the court’s decision to deny bail, citing risks of witness intimidation. Tachibana’s prior remarks about remote operations from prison have also raised concerns.
