As 2024 comes to an end, JAPAN Forward has picked up five top trending words to relive some of the year's main stories with our readers.
Previously we looked at expressions originating in sports, such as No Memorable Quote (名言が残せなかった), and 50-50. We then moved on to the expression for a new development in Japanese finance: New Banknotes (新紙幣).
Next, we look at another theme that dominated the conversation in Japanese politics in 2024.
Fourth of 5 in a series
No 2: Hidden Money Scandal (裏金問題)
The most controversial fund scandal in decades involved the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) fundraising for elections. This issue deeply affected the administration of former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. It centered on the failure to report over ¥600 million JPY ($3.84 million USD) in campaign funds to tax authorities.
The scandal led to public outrage and intense media scrutiny, resulting in punitive actions against dozens of LDP politicians, including the resignation of key figures.
Additionally, the faction system, a long-standing pillar of LDP power, was effectively disbanded.
Covering the Trend
The debate surrounding the unaccounted-for LDP political funds started in late 2023. Then, public pressure to address the issue grew during the year.
Bowing to public pressure, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called an election for the LDP President in September, effectively announcing his resignation. This kicked off an election of many firsts, with a record number of nine candidates to lead the majority party LDP.
A New Prime Minister
In a close vote, Shigeru Ishiba, a long-time political adversary of Shinzo Abe, won the LDP leadership bid. He then succeeded Kishida as prime minister.
The newly-elected Ishiba called a snap election in the shortest time of the postwar era.
The LDP came out of the election with a disappointing result, losing its coalition majority for the first time in over a decade. This outcome was widely credited also to the public's dissatisfaction with the political funds scandal.
The election result underscored new influence from previously minor parties, such as the Democratic Party for the People.
Ishiba's leadership faces an important test in the coming months, as the international context continues to be in flux.
In the good and the bad, 2024 was a time of evolution in politics and sports. They were not at the top of the list, however.
Check back for the top Trending Word, No 1 on our list.
Continues in: Japan's Trending Words in Our 2024 Stories:
'Extremely Inappropriate' (ふてほど ）
Follow the series Trending Words in Our 2024 Stories.
Author: JAPAN Forward
