TOKYO: Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party received a total of 2,400.37 million yen in donations from companies and industry groups in 2023, down 1.9 pct from the previous year, the first decline in three years, according to political funds records released by the internal affairs ministry on Friday.

The largest donators were Toyota Motor Corp. and Sumitomo Chemical Co., with 50 million yen each. Masakazu Tokura, chief of the Japan Business Federation, or Keidanren, is from Sumitomo Chemical.

Among companies with notable increases in donations, restaurant chain operator Zensho Holdings Co. increased its donations to the LDP by 7 million yen to 32 million yen, and ANA Holdings Inc., the parent of All Nippon Airways, boosted its donations by 5 million yen to 11 million yen.

Donations from major steelmakers Nippon Steel Corp., JFE Holdings Inc. and Kobe Steel Ltd. rose by 5 million yen to 32 million yen, by 5.5 million yen to 13 million yen and by 4.5 million yen to 6.5 million yen, respectively.

Meanwhile, companies with notable decreases included textile maker Toray Industries Inc., which donated 23 million yen, down 7 million yen. Many drug companies cut their donations, with Takeda Pharmaceutical Co.’s donations down 300,000 yen to 8.93 million yen, Daiichi Sankyo Co.’s down 420,000 yen to 5.06 million yen, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co.’s down 170,000 yen to 3.04 million yen, and Eisai Co.’s down 30,000 yen to 2.47 million yen.

Among industry groups, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association donated the most, 78 million yen, followed by the Japan Electrical Manufacturers’ Association with 77 million yen and the Japan Iron and Steel Federation with 70 million yen.

JIJI Press