TOKYO, Feb 25, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi was under pressure Wednesday after it emerged she gave congratulatory gift catalogues to lawmakers from her ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) following its landslide election victory this month. More than 300 lawmakers were given the option to choose an item from the catalogue "as an expression of appreciation for their success at this very tough election", Takaichi wrote in a post on X, saying that no taxpayer money was used. The news of the catalogues "could easily lead people to say, 'Prime Minister Takaichi, you too?'" She said on X that she also hoped the lawmakers' gifts "would be of use in their future work as legislators". Bunshun Online, a web version of the weekly tabloid Shukan Bunshun, reported that the gift catalogue came from the well-known Kintetsu Department Store.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha February 25, 2026 11:07 UTC