Prime Minister Takaichi denied any knowledge or authorization regarding the issuance of a cryptocurrency called "Sanae Token" during a recent legislative session.
The allegations suggest that aides from the prime minister's home district may have been involved in the creation and distribution of the digital asset to generate profit. If proven, the connection could raise questions about political ethics, and the influence of unregulated financial assets on government officials.
During a House of Representatives Budget Committee session on July 22 [2], opposition lawmakers pressed the prime minister on the matter. Rep. Goto (Centrist Reform Union) questioned the timeline of events, specifically citing a social media repost on Feb. 25, 2026 [1], by "Team Sanae," an account run by volunteers from the prime minister's local youth division.
Goto said that based on the evidence, it appeared the prime minister's side had to pretend not to know about the cryptocurrency at that stage. He said that statements provided to weekly magazines were later altered in official depositions to hide the fact that the idea of distributing the token had been explained to the office [3].
Prime Minister Takaichi said that neither she nor her office were aware of or had authorized the issuance and trading of the Sanae Token. She pointed to the website of the company that issued the token, which stated that the project did not have her approval.
"That is the truth," Takaichi said [3].
Other opposition members have also raised concerns regarding the prime minister's conduct. Rep. Kotaro Tatsumi (Communist Party) pursued the issue during a session on July 19 [2] regarding a separate matter involving defamatory videos. Tatsumi said the allegations of criminal conduct were baseless, though the opposition continues to seek political accountability for the crypto-asset links [2].
The dispute centers on whether the prime minister's staff operated independently or if the "Sanae Token" was a coordinated effort to leverage the leader's name for financial gain.
“"I myself and my office have not been aware of, nor have we authorized, the issuance and trading of a cryptocurrency called 'Sanae Token'."”
This confrontation highlights the growing tension between the Japanese government and opposition parties over the intersection of digital finance and political fundraising. While the Prime Minister has distanced herself from the 'Sanae Token' by citing the issuer's own disclaimer, the focus on the timeline of social media activity suggests that opposition lawmakers are attempting to prove a pattern of deceptive reporting to the public and official bodies.
