TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister ISHIBA Shigeru, also president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, raised the most political funds among leaders of six of the country’s major political parties in 2023, according to their political funds reports.

An LDP chief topped the rankings for the 10th year in a row. Still, Ishiba’s 2023 political funds, at 53.66 million yen, were just a quarter of the 206.79 million yen collected by his immediate predecessor, KISHIDA Fumio, in 2022.

Of Ishiba’s total, 29.44 million yen came from a fundraising party in Tokyo. He also received 10.11 million yen in donations from individuals and organizations.

TAMAKI Yuichiro, head of the opposition Democratic Party for the People, came in second, raising 52.94 million yen, including 20 million yen in donations from an individual and 10 million yen in subsidies from the party.

SAITO Tetsuo, chief of Komeito, the LDP’s junior coalition partner, ranked third, at 35.5 million yen, including 27.08 million yen from the party.
NODA Yoshihiko, leader of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, was fourth, with 24.95 million yen. He raised 10.51 million yen in donations from individuals, including 5 million yen out of his own pocket.

Fifth place went to Social Democratic Party leader FUKUSHIMA Mizuho, with 11.03 million yen, followed by Reiwa Shinsengumi head YAMAMOTO Taro, with 8.07 million yen. Around half of the funds raised by both leaders were from donations by individuals.

The ranking is based on reports from fund management organizations and party chapters. The list does not cover party leaders who do not have such organizations.

JIJI Press