On the 16th, the local office of Mito Kakizawa, a member of the Liberal Democratic Party’s House of Representatives, and the home of his secretary were searched simultaneously by the Tokyo District Special Investigation Department in relation to a violation of the Public Offices Election Law in the Koto Ward mayoral election in Tokyo. This case is a violation of the Public Offices Election Law surrounding the mayoral election of Koto Ward held in April this year, and the issue arises from Kakizawa’s support of former Mayor Yayoi Kimura.

Representative Kakizawa has his stronghold in Koto Ward and supported former Mayor Kimura in the mayoral election in April. The former Mayor Kimura resigned as mayor on the 15th, and his support activities are being questioned. It is also possible that multiple secretaries of Representative Kakizawa exchanged money as liaisons to ward assembly members, and a more detailed investigation is expected to be conducted.

The Special Investigation Department is searching the homes of campaign associates of Mr. Kimura in order to pursue this case and is working to uncover the whole picture of the incident.

Depending on the progress of the investigation, this case may attract attention as a direct violation of the Public Offices Election Law by a politician. From the perspective of election fairness, it can be expected to face even more scrutiny.