National / Crime & Legal Dec 15, 2020
18-month jail term sought for lawmaker Anri Kawai over vote-buying
Prosecutors have argued that Kawai committed an "unprecedented malicious crime that jolted the foundations of democracy."
National / Politics Nov 18, 2020
Japan's top court rules 2019 election vote weight gap is constitutional
Following 16 conflicting rulings from lower courts, the top court rejected the plaintiffs' demand for the outcomes of the House of Councilors election held on July 21, 2019, to be nullified.
National / Crime & Legal Oct 27, 2020
Tokyo court grants bail for lawmaker Anri Kawai, charged with vote-buying
Anri has been tried separately from her husband Katsuyuki, the former justice minister, since he fired his lawyers and hearings in his case were suspended.
National / Crime & Legal Oct 20, 2020
Ex-justice minister sought help with deleting data, net PR agent claims
Prosecutors say the nixed data included a list of suspected cash recipients, drawn up by Katsuyuki Kawai, that also logged how much each had been paid.
National / Crime & Legal Aug 31, 2020
Aide to scandal-hit Anri Kawai sees prison term upheld over election law violation
In the appeal trial, Hiroshi Tatemichi's defense lawyer claimed he should be given a fine rather than sentenced to prison.
National / Crime & Legal Aug 26, 2020
Tokyo court denies bail for former justice minister and lawmaker wife
Katsuyuki and Anri Kawai have been held at the Tokyo Detention House since their June 18 arrests.
National / Crime & Legal Aug 25, 2020
Lawmaker couple Katsuyuki and Anri Kawai plead not guilty to vote buying
The two were arrested in June and indicted the following month, dealing a blow to the Abe administration, which has recently seen its popularity wane.
National / Crime & Legal Jul 8, 2020
Former Japan justice minister and wife charged with vote-buying
Katsuyuki Kawai is suspected of having given ¥25.7 million ($240,000) to 94 local politicians and supporters in relation to the July 2019 Upper House vote.
National / Crime & Legal Jun 26, 2020
Ex-minister Katsuyuki Kawai said alleged vote-buying cash was ‘from Abe’
The assembly member who received the money said they could not refuse it as Kawai mentioned the name of the prime minister.
National / Crime & Legal Jun 24, 2020
Ex-justice minister may have bought votes in Hiroshima in 2005 poll
A former assemblyman said he refused to take the envelope, believing it contained cash, and then cut ties with Katsuyuki Kawai.
National / Crime & Legal Jun 22, 2020
Arrested ex-Justice Minister Katsuyuki Kawai admits cash handout but denies vote-buying
Katsuyuki Kawai and his wife Anri were arrested last Thursday on suspicion of giving ¥25.7 million in cash to 94 local politicians and supporters.