Takaichi submits aide statement, denies prior Sanae Token briefing

2026-07-22

Aide denies making defamation videos

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on the 22nd submitted to House of Representatives Budget Committee Chairman Satoshi Sakamoto a statement from her aide, who had been reported to have requested the creation of defamation videos during the Liberal Democratic Party leadership race. The aide said, 'I have not created or posted videos that defame other candidates,' and denied asking a third party to do so.

The aide acknowledged holding an online meeting with a person who supports politicians on social media. However, as the two had not met in person and the aide had no memory of the person's face or name, the aide said the person was reported to the prime minister as someone with whom there was 'no personal acquaintance'.

Denies Sanae Token briefing

Regarding the virtual currency 'SANAE TOKEN', the aide stressed that there had been no prior explanation that it was a crypto asset. The aide said clearly that there had been no prior explanation or approval of the issuance and trading of a crypto asset by the name Sanae Token.

On the other hand, the aide acknowledged holding an online meeting in December 2025 with a company said to have been involved in the issuance of Sanae Token. The aide said it had been explained as a plan to broadly listen to public views through app development and other work. Asked whether a man attended, the aide replied that he had no memory of it. In later exchanges, the aide said the name 'Sanae Token' had come up, but that he understood it to be the name of points inside an app.

Opposition to keep pressing issue in parliament

Sanae Token has been flagged as potentially falling under sales by an unregistered operator. Akira Nagatsuma of the Center for Reform Coalition told reporters on the 22nd that it was 'an issue that must be settled one way or the other' and said he intended to take it up in the House of Representatives Budget Committee session scheduled for the 24th.

The creator of the defamation videos and the developer of Sanae Token are reported to be the same man. Through interviews and news reports, the aide wrote that it had 'gradually become clear' that this man was the other party in the online meeting. The prime minister has repeatedly told the Budget Committee and other panels that she had 'no personal acquaintance' with the man.

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