Fukuoka Prefectural Assembly Scandal Over Alleged 5‑million Yen Payments

In July 2026, a series of press conferences in Fukuoka revealed a money‑for‑position scandal involving the prefectural assembly's former chairman and vice‑chairman. Assembly member Hideyuki Eto said he handed 5 million yen in a brown envelope to former vice‑chairman Masayuki Nakao in early 2020. Former chair Gen Shō Yoshimatsu released audio recordings of a conversation with Nakao that included remarks such as “big money, we must manage it.” An independent acoustic analysis by the Japan Acoustics Institute found the voice matches Nakao with over 99.99 % certainty and detected no editing.

Young LDP assembly members submitted a request for an independent third‑party committee to investigate the allegations and urged that the assembly not be dissolved until the matter is resolved. Prime Minister Sae Takaichi said the party must first verify the facts and will consider any necessary response. Assembly chair Yūo Kurauchi said the investigation should be completed by September.