Smear campaign.

This is a story I thought was interesting. In Japan, as in Korea, publishing defamatory information about a political candidate for office during a campaign, is an election law violation. If a candidate or office holder is found responsible in court for the act or actions, then they are disqualified from office.

PM Takaichi's office has been implicated in such violations during her last campaign for office and her tenure as prime minister may be jeopardized thereby. The problem is the story isn't getting much media coverage, as the media in Japan is quite intimidated by her, as they were by her mentor Abe. She's a clever wordsmith and managed to avoid answering questions in the legislature about this. From the short clips I heard a couple of her evasive non-answer answers and the disapproving sounds from the chamber among some opposition deputies. She won't throw her office secretary to the wolves, although he(?) appears to have been directly implicated and allegedly flatly lied about it.

Takaichi under fire for faking resume, illegal election ads amid mainstream media blackout

Smear videos
Furthermore, weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun recently scooped that Takaichi’s camp allegedly created and disseminated malicious smear videos targeting opposition candidates during the same February election.

Despite the severity of a sitting prime minister admitting to resume fraud and a political party violating election laws, major newspapers and television networks have effectively instituted a news blackout. While brief mentions of Takaichi denying the smear video allegations have aired, no major outlet has conducted investigative reporting into the claims.

The media’s silence has sparked fury online. Netizens have accused the press of hypocrisy, pointing out that mainstream media relentlessly hounded Maki Takubo — the former female mayor of Ito City — over similar resume-padding allegations. “Where is the coverage on Sanae Takaichi?” one user wrote. Another demanded, “The major media needs to properly inform the public about the true nature of the LDP’s election tactics.”

“Extremely serious”

Pundits suggest the press is terrified of the Prime Minister. Ikuo Gonoi, a professor of international politics at Takachiho University, called the allegations “extremely serious” and criticized the mainstream media for abandoning its investigative duties.

If the allegations are false why won't you bring a lawsuit? The prime minister in effect said she has other higher priorities.

Learned of the story above from Jake Adelstein's X thread. I then heard the original investigative reporter who broke the story, through a youtube AI translation, complaining about other media reporting the story without crediting him. The other journalists present noted this a common problem in Japanese media. Shukan Bunshun is the original media source, if I understood correctly. AI doesn't do names well so I didn't get the investigative reporter's name. AI translations of both Korean and Japanese also struggle with gender. Because I don't understand Japanese, or don't already know who the players are, the story is difficult to follow.

I wrote the above about Takaichi a couple of days ago. More was posted later.

PM Takaichi was offered Bunshun's audio recording that allegedly showed her secretary talking to a person who made videos slandering her LDP rivals.
She will not listen to check if it's her secretary's voice because the audio is for Bunshun subscribers.pic.twitter.com/P31X3k6EAX https://t.co/y981JUsD0J

— Jeffrey J. Hall (@mrjeffu) June 4, 2026

I see that Asahi had posted an article about this as well, so it isn't just tabloid nonsense.

VOX POPULI: Takaichi’s smear video evasiveness breeds a full-on political liability

The key point is that she won't listen to the recording.

It would be better for the world if former PM Shigeru Ishiba were in the prime minister's office again. I think he's the best of the lot from the LDP, as the single party government of Japan. Even if he does like to play with toy battleships, my impression was he was a lot more diplomatic. Takaichi, an Abe protege, who has the mission of militarizing Japan to make it "normal" again, is dangerous. I indeed wonder if she wasn't in fact recruited when she worked in the US.

South Korea's June 3 elections-

Democrats win off cycle elections June 3, but...conservative Oh Se-hoon wins unprecedented 5th term as mayor of Seoul.

“Korean society is susceptible to ideological conflict between political camps and conspiracy theories, meaning NEC's credibility and impartiality are among its most important assets. This incident has dealt a serious blow to both.” https://t.co/FZM064ehMb

— The Hankyoreh (@TheHankyoreh) June 4, 2026

Oh is a very slick guy. So is Hong Dong-hun, Yoon's former right hand, hatchet man as prosecutor, who bailed on Yoon during the martial law debacle, and encouraged PPP party members to vote their conscience on Yoon's impeachment. Han Dong-hun won a national legislature seat from a district in Pusan as an independent, in a three way race.

The ballot shortage in Seoul was quite suspicious. Interesting how it was initially portrayed as a democratic party conspiracy against the PPP. In the build up to the election, it was the dems who could not trusted with elections, because they are communists, Chinese dupes, North Korean dupes, etc. But who wins the big prize despite the exit polls? I don't think Oh can be trusted. This is the set up for the next presidential election cycle. However...

The Democratic Party won 12 mayoral elections in cities that included Busan and Ulsan. The PPP claimed four victories, including the mayoral races in Seoul and Daegu and the gubernatorial race in South Gyeongsang Province.https://t.co/mbTvjmLXjg

— The Hankyoreh (@TheHankyoreh) June 4, 2026

Democrat Chu Mi-ae wins the larger jurisdiction and will be the new governor of Gyeonggi Do, population 14 million, larger than Seoul. Lee, the president of South Korea, formerly held this office.

[클린버전] 아즈마아키(東亜樹) - 님이여(あなたよ)｜⚡한일톱텐쇼⚡241029
Aki Azuma- Nim i eo / My Love (What will I do if you leave)