Takaichi’s smear video scandal shows Japan’s digital campaign rules are behind the curve ^47.6%

The Japan Times - By Michael Macarthur Bosack - 6/25/2026, 4:00 AM

Negativity Bias 39.8% - Unattributed Quote 36.3% - Recency Bias 29.2%

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has been unable to shake off a scandal that emerged more than a month ago in a weekly magazine. Opposition lawmakers have continued to press her this week on the allegation that one of her secretaries was connected to an online smear campaign in recent elections. While the alleged scandal remains at the... more