The eldest daughter of former Saitama Gov. Yoshihiko Tsuchiya pleaded guilty Friday to misappropriating 116 million yen in political funds donated to her father between 1998 and 2002.
In her first trial hearing at the Tokyo District Court, Momoko Ichikawa, 53, admitted to embezzling donations and party ticket income from her father's political fund management office, which she ran.
"I am extremely sorry to have caused trouble to so many people," she told the court. "I apologize very deeply."