Yoshihide Suga

Seigo Suga, the Prime Minister's son and a Tohokushinsha executive, attended expensive meals provided to officials at the Communications Ministry, which regulated a sector in which his company had interests. The case led to disciplinary sanctions against civil servants and reviews of licences.

State of the evidence

Meals and breaches of ethics rules documented

Legal status — source text

Administrative sanctions against several officials; no personal wrongdoing by Suga established

Attribution

Indirect political responsibility; invitations attributable to his son and the company

Suga proceeded with the Tokyo Games in 2021 despite the state of emergency, incomplete vaccination coverage and polls showing that many people wanted cancellation or another postponement. The perception that he prioritised the Games contributed to his declining support.

State of the evidence

Decision to proceed with Games and public opposition documented

Legal status — source text

No legal proceedings

Attribution

Political responsibility as Prime Minister; organisation shared with Tokyo, IOC and local organising committee

Suga refused to appoint six of the 105 candidates recommended by the Science Council of Japan, departing from a previously largely formal practice. Academics and legal experts denounced an infringement of scientific independence, as several of the researchers had criticised Abe government policies.

State of the evidence

Unprecedented decision and academic opposition documented

Legal status — source text

No completed legal proceedings against Suga

Attribution

Direct personal responsibility as Prime Minister

Suga defended domestic tourism subsidies for an extended period despite rising infections. His government initially restricted the scheme locally before suspending it nationally for the New Year, prompting criticism of a response considered slow and inconsistent.

State of the evidence

Programme, policy reversal and expert criticism documented

Legal status — source text

No legal proceedings

Attribution

Direct governmental responsibility

Suga attended a dinner at a steak restaurant in Ginza with approximately eight people, including several elderly figures, while his government was recommending avoiding large meals. The episode was criticised as contradicting official public health messages.

State of the evidence

Attendance and apologies documented

Legal status — source text

No legal proceedings

Attribution

Direct personal responsibility

Suga's press conferences were marked by highly tense exchanges with Isoko Mochizuki of Tokyo Shimbun. The Cabinet issued warnings to her newspaper, and the journalist was sometimes interrupted several times within a minute and a half, prompting protests over the freedom to question the government.

State of the evidence

Interruptions and restrictions documented

Legal status — source text

No criminal proceedings

Attribution

Institutional responsibility as Chief Cabinet Secretary; some measures decided by the Cabinet press office

The Abe government, in which Suga was a leading official, continued construction of the new US facility at Henoko despite the election of opposing governors and a February 2019 referendum in which more than 70% of voters rejected the land reclamation.

State of the evidence

Construction and referendum results documented

Legal status — source text

Administrative litigation between the state and prefecture; no personal criminal wrongdoing

Attribution

Political responsibility as Chief Cabinet Secretary and leading spokesperson for government policy

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist not prosecuted