Sanae Takaichi faces allegations over election videos and crypto

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is facing scrutiny regarding several allegations involving election integrity and personal history. Reports from multiple media outlets, including Bunshun and Kyodo News, have investigated claims that her campaign was involved in the creation and dissemination of defamatory short videos targeting political rivals during the LDP presidential election.

Key investigations include the use of generative AI to produce thousands of videos and the potential use of 'smartphone farms' to artificially inflate social media engagement. While Takaichi has denied involvement, inconsistencies in her explanations regarding recorded audio of her secretary have been noted by observers.

Additionally, controversy has surrounded the 'Sanae Token,' a cryptocurrency bearing her name. Following its issuance in early 2026, the token's value plummeted by 75%, prompting an investigation by the Financial Services Agency and the subsequent termination of the project by NoBorder DAO. Takaichi has officially denied any connection to the cryptocurrency.