Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi's political team spent a staggering 83.84 million yen ($500,000) in last year's 2024 LDP leadership race – only to lose to rival Shigeru Ishiba, who spent just 420,000 yen. The revelation has ignited debates about modern political strategies and the value of social media influence.
💰 Where Did the Money Go?
Takaichi's camp allocated 33 million yen to a PR team specializing in viral social media campaigns – the same group that boosted underdog candidate Ishimaru Shinji in Tokyo's 2023 gubernatorial race. Another 45 million yen went to printed materials, despite LDP rules explicitly banning campaign flyers.
🚨 Rule-Breaking Backlash
The team mailed over 300,000 prohibited flyers, drawing fire from opponents and official reprimands. Social media users quickly connected the dots: "When I criticize Takaichi, I get flooded with hate comments," one tweet noted, "Now I see why – 33 million yen buys a lot of keyboard warriors."
📊 The Price of Influence
While Ishiba's low-budget victory suggests traditional grassroots support still matters, analysts say this race highlights Japan's growing political tech arms race. As one netizen quipped: "Turns out you can't retweet your way to power – even with Avengers-level campaign budgets."
