Aso Taro, the vice president of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, has been accused of using political parties to raise about 2 billion yen (84.54 million yuan) , some of the money was paid to a private club.
Aso, 86, who served as Prime Minister of Japan, Finance Minister and other key positions, is the LDP’s only remaining faction of the“Aso faction” leader. According to Japanese media, Aso Taro’s support in Takagi Saomori was elected president last year in the process played a key role, “Aso faction” members are now about 60.
Over the past 18 years, Aso Pie has earned about 3 billion yen (126 million yuan) in total, the weekly Wenchun magazine reported Sunday, about 2 billion yen was raised through political fund-raising parties. According to the media, Aso paid about 80 million yen (3.38 million yuan) in political funds to a private club in central Tokyo, is believed to be close to Aso.
Above, the headquarters of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in Tokyo, Japan, on December 25,2025.
Aso has also been accused of hosting expensive events in the ballroom of a high-end Tokyo Hotel, attended by a large number of lawmakers and supporters.
Japanese people are skeptical. One person wrote on Yahoo’s website that the LDP claimed to reflect after the“Black gold” scandal, but in fact“Only wanted to amass money”. Others say that the LDP has said it will strictly manage political funds, but that it is all talk and no action. Others called for Aso to step down.
There have been plenty of money scandals in the LDP lately. In July this year, the LDP Fukuoka County Assembly group exposed a“Tribute” scandal. Several people who had been the County Assembly Speaker and Deputy Speaker revealed that they had been forced to submit large amounts of money to the group before taking office, to pay for golf and meals. Earlier this month, the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and fisheries, Wubu three new scandals, including illegal receipt of political donations, holding“Beer parties”, illegal payment of election officials something of something, something and something. (Zhang Jing)