Japanese Opposition Presses PM Takaichi Over Crypto Token Links
Japanese opposition lawmakers are intensifying scrutiny of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi over her alleged ties to a crypto asset named SANAE TOKEN. Lawmaker Mizuoka said the issue remains unresolved in the lower house and called for further questioning in the upper house. The prime minister has denied any knowledge of the token, but her first secretary, Takeshi Kimura, reportedly agreed to promote it on an X account before learning it was a crypto asset. The Financial Services Agency has received three complaints related to the token. Opposition members argue the prime minister bears the burden of proving no connection.
Mizuoka pointed out that the video and SANAE TOKEN issues have not reached a conclusion in the Diet, and expressed hope to secure time for further questioning in the House of Councillors. Earlier, the Centrist Reform Union in the House of Representatives had demanded an inter-session review on these matters.
Centrist Reform Union lawmaker Yuichi Goto questioned Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on July 27 during a House of Representatives Budget Committee session about her relationship with a crypto asset named SANAE TOKEN. The prime minister completely denied any connection, stating, "I was not aware that a crypto asset was issued or traded." Fellow party lawmaker Akira Nagatsuma also attended the interview.
Regarding SANAE TOKEN, the prime minister's first secretary and office manager in Nara, Takeshi Kimura, held an online meeting with the issuer, NoBorder, in December last year. During the meeting, NoBorder proposed distributing points within an application under development. Kimura said he does not recall whether the term "crypto asset" was mentioned. In late February this year, Kimura heard the name "SANAE TOKEN" from NoBorder but believed it was similar to in-app points. At the issuer's request, he agreed to have an X account run by LDP Nara Prefecture Youth Bureau members, "Team Sanae," repost a message introducing SANAE TOKEN. Kimura said he was not told at the time that the token was a crypto asset and only learned so after its issuance. After the token was issued, the prime minister posted on X denying any connection, and the token's price subsequently plunged.
The prime minister responded, "I myself was completely unaware of acquiring SANAE TOKEN." Goto said, "Crypto assets can be traced to see who bought them. If an investigation is conducted, the truth will come to light. I hope the prime minister will be careful in her responses." Goto found the change suspicious.
Nagatsuma noted that the Financial Services Agency has confirmed receiving three complaints related to SANAE TOKEN. Many citizens use crypto assets for asset management, and the current Diet session passed a bill to strengthen regulation. It is necessary to determine whether the prime minister's office acted appropriately. Goto emphasized that regardless of whether Kimura knew the token was a crypto asset, the fact that he approved the repost led many people to mistakenly believe SANAE TOKEN was linked to the prime minister. Although NoBorder's website states there is no cooperation or endorsement from the prime minister, Goto argued that the burden of proving no connection lies with the prime minister.