Overview

• Nakagawa Yasuhiro, head of JA Group Kyoto, denied tax evasion at a Sept. 28 news conference and said he filed a National Tax Tribunal review on Sept. 25 over an Osaka tax bureau assessment.
• In reports citing officials, Osaka tax authorities concluded related firms concealed income over seven years and imposed additional taxes totaling around ¥5 billion, treating about ¥300 million as having flowed to Nakagawa, which he rejects.
• Tonaki Village in Okinawa returned former mayor Suguru Momohara to office with 121 votes, defeating incumbent Akira Higa by 16 votes on 88.72% turnout.
• Coverage of the Oct. 4 Liberal Democratic Party leadership vote described subdued rallies and noted candidates largely avoided addressing “politics and money,” reflecting weak public enthusiasm.
• New York Mayor Eric Adams ended his bid for the Nov. 4 election on Sept. 28, withdrawing from the race after running as an independent.