Taro Yamamoto, representative of the Reiwa Shisensha party, received a fine and license suspension for speeding in Oita City [1].
The incident involves a high-profile political leader violating traffic laws, raising questions about accountability and public safety standards for government officials.
The violation occurred in October 2025 on the Higashikyushu Expressway in Oita City [1]. According to a party announcement, Yamamoto was driving a rental car at 149 km/h [1], significantly exceeding the legal speed limit of 80 km/h [1].
Police apprehended Yamamoto for the violation [1]. As a result of the incident, he was ordered to pay a fine of 90,000 yen [1]. Additionally, he received an administrative penalty consisting of a 90-day suspension of his driver's license [1].
Reiwa Shisensha addressed the matter internally following the legal proceedings. The party said the secretary-general issued a strict warning to Yamamoto [1]. The party said it would strive to prevent a recurrence of such behavior [1].
The disclosure of the speeding violation came to light through reports released on July 3 [1]. The incident took place several months before the public announcement, reflecting a delay between the police action in late 2025 and the party's recent formal acknowledgment of the penalties [1].
“Yamamoto was driving a rental car at 149 km/h, significantly exceeding the legal speed limit of 80 km/h.”
This incident places a political leader under scrutiny for a significant breach of public safety laws. Because the speed recorded was nearly double the legal limit, the severity of the administrative penalty — a three-month license suspension — suggests a high level of negligence. The internal disciplinary action by the Reiwa Shisensha secretary-general serves as a formal effort to mitigate political fallout from the violation.
