Japan
| Question | Value |
|---|---|
1. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to political parties? |
Code
Yes
|
2. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to candidates? |
Code
Yes
|
3. Is there a ban on corporate donations to political parties? |
Code
No
|
4. Is there a ban on corporate donations to candidates? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Ban does not apply to fundraisers. |
5. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to political parties? |
Code
No
|
6. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to candidates? |
Code
Yes
|
7. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to political parties? |
Code
Yes, above certain threshold
Comment
Ban does not apply to collections in the streets or in a meetings if the amount of donation does not exceed 1,000 yen [I$ 9].
|
8. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to candidates? |
Code
Yes
|
9. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to political parties? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Only in relation to an election. Source
Art 22.3, Companies and corporations that receive subsidies or capital investments from the national or local authorities shall not contribute political funds [description, not direct quote] (Source: Political Funds Control Act, 1948 (as amended by Act No. 135 of 2007)) Art 199, And a person with government contracts shall not contribute political funds in relation to an election [description, not direct quote] (Source: Public Offices Election Act, 1950 (as amended by Act No. 35 of 2011)) |
10. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to candidates? |
Code
Yes
Comment
All corporate donations banned Source
P 46f, "Various restrictions are imposed on contributions concerning elections or other political activities for the purpose of maintaining a clean election system and fair government. (1) Ban on Contributions by Those Closely Connected with the National or Local Authorities Contributions concerning elections or other political activities by the following persons, etc., are prohibited: a) Persons having a special relationship with the national, or local authorities in terms of contracts or other matters (Only contributions made in connection with elections are banned.) (Art. 199 par.1) b) Companies and corporations which receive subsidies from the national or local authorities (Art. 22-3 pars. 1 and 4 of the Political Funds Control Law) c) Companies and corporations which receive capital or contributions from the national or local authorities (Art. 22-3 pars. 2 and 4 of the Political Funds Control Law) d) Companies and corporations furnished with a loan, the lender of which receives subsidies for interest payments regarding to the loan from the national or local authorities (Art. 199 par. 2 of the Election Law)"(Source: Free Choice Foundation (2007) Election System in Japan) |
11. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to political parties? |
Code
Yes
Source
Art 22.3, Companies and corporations that receive subsidies or capital investments from the national or local authorities shall not contribute political funds [description, not direct quote] (Source: Political Funds Control Act, 1948 (as amended by Act No. 135 of 2007)) Art 199, And a person with government contracts shall not contribute political funds in relation to an election [description, not direct quote] (Source: Public Offices Election Act, 1950 (as amended by Act No. 35 of 2011)) |
12. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to candidates? |
Code
Yes
Comment
All corporate donations banned Source
P 46f, "Various restrictions are imposed on contributions concerning elections or other political activities for the purpose of maintaining a clean election system and fair government. (1) Ban on Contributions by Those Closely Connected with the National or Local Authorities Contributions concerning elections or other political activities by the following persons, etc., are prohibited: a) Persons having a special relationship with the national, or local authorities in terms of contracts or other matters (Only contributions made in connection with elections are banned.) (Art. 199 par.1) b) Companies and corporations which receive subsidies from the national or local authorities (Art. 22-3 pars. 1 and 4 of the Political Funds Control Law) c) Companies and corporations which receive capital or contributions from the national or local authorities (Art. 22-3 pars. 2 and 4 of the Political Funds Control Law) d) Companies and corporations furnished with a loan, the lender of which receives subsidies for interest payments regarding to the loan from the national or local authorities (Art. 199 par. 2 of the Election Law)"(Source: Free Choice Foundation (2007) Election System in Japan) |
13. Is there a ban on the use of state resources in favour or against a political party or candidate? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Public media is required to be neutral in its reporting and public officials may not favour any groups.
|
14. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during a non-election specific period? |
Code
Yes, for both natural and legal persons
Source
Chapter 20, Question 20b (page 35): "Individual donation to the political parties and political organizations are restricted to 20 million yen (US$206,424) annually." Chapter 20, Question 20c (page 35): "Political donations by corporations, labor unions and the other organizations are restricted to 7.5 million yen to 30 million yen (US$77,421 to US$309,666), with specific ceilings for organizations that are determined by the amount of capital, number of union members and other factors." (Source: Global Integrity Report (2008) Scorecard: Japan 2008. Available at http://report.globalintegrity.org/Japan/2008/scorecard) Art 21.3, An individual shall not contribute more than 20 million yen per year to political parties and political fund organizations. And as for corporations and trade unions, the upper limit of the total contribution to political parties and political fund organizations ranges from 7.5 million to 100 million yen, which is determined based on the capital of the company or the number of members of the trade union. [description, not direct quote] (Source: Political Funds Control Act, 1948 (as amended by Act No. 135 of 2007)) |
15. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during a non-election specific period, what is the limit? |
Code
Annual limit is 20 million yen [I$ 178,000] (individuals); between 7,5 million yen to 100 million yen [I$ 67,000 to I$ 890,000] (corporations, labor unions and other organisations)
Comment
Specific ceilings apply for donors that are not individuals, determined by factors such as amount of capital and number of union members.
|
16. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during an election? |
Code
No
Comment
Regular limit applies Source
Chapter 20, Question 20b (page 35): "Individual donation to the political parties and political organizations are restricted to 20 million yen (US$206,424) annually." Chapter 20, Question 20c (page 35): "Political donations by corporations, labor unions and the other organizations are restricted to 7.5 million yen to 30 million yen (US$77,421 to US$309,666), with specific ceilings for organizations that are determined by the amount of capital, number of union members and other factors." (Source: Global Integrity Report (2008) Scorecard: Japan 2008. Available at http://report.globalintegrity.org/Japan/2008/scorecard) |
17. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during an election, what is the limit? |
Code
Not applicable
Comment
NA
|
18. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a candidate? |
Code
Yes, for both natural and legal persons
Source
Chapter 21, Question 21b (page 37): "Individual donations to a single candidate are restricted to 1.5 million yen (US$15,497) annually." (Source: Global Integrity Report (2008) Scorecard: Japan 2008. Available at http://report.globalintegrity.org/Japan/2008/scorecard) Art 22, "The amount of individual contribution to a person other than political parties and political fund organizations may not exceed 1.5 million yen per year."(Source: Political Funds Control Act, 1948 (as amended by Act No. 135 of 2007)) |
19. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a candidate, what is the limit? |
Code
Limit for individual donations is 1,5 million yen [I$ 13,000] per year.
|
20. Is there a limit on the amount a candidate can contribute to their own election campaign? |
|
21. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to political parties? |
|
22. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to candidates? |
|
23. Is there a ban on political parties engaging in commercial activities? |
|
24. Is there a ban on political parties taking loans in relation to election campaigns? |
|
25. Is there a ban on candidates taking loans in relation to election campaigns? |
|
26. Is there a ban on donors to political parties/candidates participating in public tender/procurement processes? |
|
27. Are there provisions requiring donations to go through the banking system? |
| Question | Value |
|---|---|
28. Are there provisions for direct public funding to political parties? |
Code
Yes, regularly
|
29. What are the eligibility criteria for political parties to receive public funding? |
Code
Comment
Parliamentary representation and 2% of the vote in one of the latest elections, or winning five seats in the latest election.
|
30. What is the allocation calculation for political parties to receive public funding? |
Code
Proportional to votes received
Proportional to seats received
Comment
Subsidies are allocated according to seats and votes gained by the political parties.
|
31. What are the provisions on 'ear marking' direct public funding to political parties (how it should be used)? |
Code
No
|
32. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for political parties? |
Code
Yes
|
33. What criteria determine allocation for free or subsidized access to media for political parties? |
Code
Comment
In some cases, parties putting forward at least twelve candidates receive the same amount of broadcasting time. Parties putting forward fewer than twelve candidates receive less time.
|
34. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for candidates? |
Code
Yes
Comment
For some types of elections
|
35. Are there provisions for any other form of indirect public funding? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Indirect funding include tax benefits, production of posters and arrangement of public meeting places for candidates.
|
36. Is the provision of direct public funding to political parties tied to gender equality among candidates? |
Code
No
|
37. Are there provisions for other financial advantages to encourage gender equality in political parties? |
Code
No
|
| Question | Value |
|---|---|
38. Is there a ban on vote buying? |
Code
Yes
|
39. Are there limits on the amount a political party can spend? |
Code
No
|
40. If there are limits on the amount a political party can spend, what is the limit? |
Code
Not applicable
Comment
NA
|
41. Are there limits on the amount a candidate can spend? |
Code
Yes
|
42. If there are limits on the amount a candidate can spend, what is the limit? |
Code
Limit varies depending on registered voters in constituency and type of election
|
43. Are there limits on the amount that third parties can spend on election campaign activities? |
|
44. Are there limits on traditional media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns? |
|
45. Are there limits on online media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns? |
|
46. Do any other restrictions on online media advertisement (beyond limits) exist? |
| Question | Value |
|---|---|
47. Do political parties have to report regularly on their finances? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Annually
|
48. Do political parties have to report on their election campaign finances? |
Code
No
|
49. Do candidates have to report on their election campaign finances? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Revenue and expenditure reports shall be submitted to the Local Election Management Council. |
50. Do third parties have to report on election campaign finances? |
|
51. Is information in reports from political parties and/or candidates to be made public? |
Code
Yes
|
52. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates reveal the identity of donors? |
Code
Sometimes
Comment
The identity must be disclosed if the value exceeds 50,000 yen [I$ 450]
|
53. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized income? |
|
54. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized spending? |
|
55. Which institution(s) receives financial reports from political parties and/or candidates? |
Code
Comment
Financial reports of political parties should be presented to the Ministry of General Affairs or the Local Election Management Council. Reports on the annual public subsides should be presented to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication. Individual candidates should present their report to the Local Election Management Council.
|
56. Which institution(s) is responsible for examining financial reports and/or investigating violations? |
Code
Comment
Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications or the prefectural electoral commission check inaccuracies in submitted reports (but do not necessarily investigate breaches)
|
57. What power is granted to the institution(s) responsible for examining reports and/or investigating violations? |
|
58. What sanctions are provided for political finance infractions? |
Code
Comment
Apart from fines and prison, violations can also lead to loss of elected seat or ban from public office. |
