Political parties and groups raised ¥253.7 billion in 2008, down 11 percent from the previous year and 30 percent below the peak in 1998, reflecting the economic downturn and lack of a national election that triggers massive fundraising, government reports showed Monday.
The parties spent 23 percent less at ¥237.2 billion, equivalent to two-thirds of the peak in 1991, according to reports on political funds submitted to the central and local governments.
Donations, the largest source of income, marked a record low ¥72.7 billion, down 26 percent from 2007.
About ¥30.3 billion of the donations came from individuals, down 31 percent, and ¥30.3 billion came from political organizations, down 24 percent, followed by ¥12.2 billion from companies and organizations, down 12 percent.
Fundraising gatherings stayed essentially flat, raising ¥60.7 billion and marking only a 2 percent drop from the previous year.
Among parties, the Liberal Democratic Party collected the most at ¥65.4 billion.
The Japanese Communist Party was in second place, collecting ¥53.8 billion, and the Democratic Party of Japan raised ¥24.9 billion, followed by New Komeito with ¥19.7 billion, the Social Democratic Party with ¥3.9 billion, and Kokumin Shinto (People's New Party) with ¥2.3 billion.
New Party Nippon raised ¥200 million and the Japan Renaissance Party ¥100 million.
Among rookie Lower House lawmakers elected Aug. 30, DPJ newcomers who had already started political activities in 2008 reported an average of ¥18.93 million, compared with the ¥58 million reported by their LDP counterparts.
The amount raised and reported to local authorities totaled ¥128.4 billion, down 19 percent from the previous year, while funds reported to the central government amounted to ¥125.3 billion.
Income reported to local authorities accounted for 51 percent of the total.