Overview

• Tokyo prosecutors’ special investigations unit searched locations linked to Akira Ishii on Aug. 27 over suspected fraudulent public‑secretary salaries, seizing materials during hours‑long raids.
• Yoshimura Hirofumi apologized to voters and said the party will question Ishii soon, adding that proven wrongdoing would require ouster and the surrender of his seat.
• Police arrested Delpara’s president Masanori Yamamoto (Lee Changbeom) and six executives on suspicion of promising ¥3,000–¥4,000 to employees for votes for industry figure Abe Yasuhisa.
• Investigators say roughly 250 employees are believed to have voted with about 280 people potentially implicated, after managers directed staff to provide proof such as ballot photos and report voting status to headquarters.
• Hyogo Governor Motohiko Saito denied ordering a leak of a whistleblower’s private information, and more than 10,000 signatures in Ito City called for Mayor Maki Takubo’s resignation over alleged academic‑credentials falsification.