Koichi Hagiuda, an executive with Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, is running in Tokyo's No. 24 constituency in Sunday's general election, aiming for a victory to fully emerge from the party's high-profile slush fund scandal. When the official campaign period kicked off on January 27, he addressed an enthusiastic crowd in front of Hachioji Station, emphasizing his claim to being a "self-made politician."
Koichi Hagiuda, an executive with Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), is contesting Tokyo's No. 24 constituency in the upcoming Lower House election on Sunday, determined to put the party's notorious slush fund scandal behind him through a strong win. Hagiuda was one of the five leading figures in the now-defunct LDP faction once headed by the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, which lay at the heart of the controversy over unreported political funds.
The official campaign period began on January 27, with Hagiuda speaking to an enthusiastic crowd outside Hachioji Station. He received rapturous applause from supporters after highlighting his background as a "self-made politician." This election holds significance for the LDP, especially amid alliances with Komeito, and unfolds primarily in the Hachioji area.
The scandal has tarnished the party's reputation and cast a shadow over Hagiuda's career, but he views a victory as a chance for renewal. Local voters in Tokyo No. 24 will play a crucial role in determining his fate.
