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LDP eyes punishing members over scandal, leaves out Kishida

TOKYO, Japan, April 1 Kyodo -The Liberal Democratic Party said Monday it will pursue punishment for 39 members over a political funds scandal that has rattled the ruling party since late last year, notably excluding Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and party heavyweight Toshihiro Nikai who has decided not to seek reelection as a lawmaker.The LDP has come under intense scrutiny since some of its factions, including the largest one formerly led by the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, were found to have neglected to report portions of fundraising party revenue for years, with hundreds of millions of yen passed back to members.(Kyodo)

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Abe appoints 3 top LDP executives

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (2nd L) poses with three newly appointed top Liberal Democratic Party executives at the party headquarters in Tokyo on Aug. 27. From left to right: Taro Aso, LDP secretary general; Abe; Toshihiro Nikai, chairman of the LDP General Council; and Nobuteru Ishihara, chairman of the LDP Policy Research Council.

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Abe appoints top LDP executives

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (C) poses with five newly appointed senior Liberal Democratic Party executives at the party headquarters in Tokyo on Aug. 27. From left to right: Hidehisa Otsuji, head of the LDP House of Councillors caucus; Taro Aso, LDP secretary general; Abe; Toshihiro Nikai, chairman of the LDP General Council; Nobuteru Ishihara, chairman of the LDP Policy Research Council; and Asaaki Yamazaki, secretary general of the LDP House of Councillors caucus.

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Abe names 3 top LDP executive posts

TOKYO, Japan - Lineup of three top Liberal Democratic Party executives named by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Aug. 27. From left to right: Outgoing Foreign Minister Taro Aso as LDP secretary general; Toshihiro Nikai as chairman of the LDP General Council; and Nobuteru Ishihara as chairman of the LDP Policy Research Council

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New LDP leadership launched

TOKYO, Japan - Members of the newly launched leadership of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party join hands for photos at LDP headquarters in Tokyo on Sept. 3, 2014. They are (from L) election strategy chief Toshimitsu Motegi, policy chief Tomomi Inada, Vice President Masahiko Komura, President Shinzo Abe, Secretary General Sadakazu Tanigaki and General Council chief Toshihiro Nikai.

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Paralympic athletes visit mayor in Saitama Pref.

TOKYO, Japan - Toshihiro Abe (L) and Momoka Muraoka (R), the oldest and youngest athletes on Japan's Sochi Paralympic Games team, shake hands with Fukaya Mayor Susumu Kojima during their visit to the Fukaya city hall in Saitama Prefecture on Jan. 23, 2014. Abe, 42, and Muraoka, 16, are both residents of the eastern Japan city. The two will compete in alpine skiing events at the Sochi games in March.

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Night vigil for late ex-Japan PM Abe

Former Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Toshihiro Nikai (C) visits Zojoji temple in Tokyo on July 11, 2022, to attend a night vigil for the late former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, following the fatal shooting of him during upper house election campaigning in Nara, western Japan, on July 8.

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LDP executives at fundraising party

Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks at a fundraising party for a Liberal Democratic Party faction led by Toshihiro Nikai, former secretary general of the ruling Japanese party, at a Tokyo hotel on May 16, 2022.

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Abe appoints 3 top LDP executives

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (2nd L) poses with three newly appointed top Liberal Democratic Party executives at the party headquarters in Tokyo on Aug. 27. From left to right: Taro Aso, LDP secretary general; Abe; Toshihiro Nikai, chairman of the LDP General Council; and Nobuteru Ishihara, chairman of the LDP Policy Research Council. (Kyodo)

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Abe names 3 top LDP executive posts

TOKYO, Japan - Lineup of three top Liberal Democratic Party executives named by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Aug. 27. From left to right: Outgoing Foreign Minister Taro Aso as LDP secretary general; Toshihiro Nikai as chairman of the LDP General Council; and Nobuteru Ishihara as chairman of the LDP Policy Research Council (Kyodo)

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Abe appoints top LDP executives

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (C) poses with five newly appointed senior Liberal Democratic Party executives at the party headquarters in Tokyo on Aug. 27. From left to right: Hidehisa Otsuji, head of the LDP House of Councillors caucus; Taro Aso, LDP secretary general; Abe; Toshihiro Nikai, chairman of the LDP General Council; Nobuteru Ishihara, chairman of the LDP Policy Research Council; and Asaaki Yamazaki, secretary general of the LDP House of Councillors caucus. (Kyodo)

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LDP looking to extend term limit for party president

Toshihiro Nikai (L in front row), chairman of the General Council of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party, Hiroyuki Hosoda, the LDP's executive acting secretary general, and LDP policy chief Tomomi Inada attend a meeting on July 19, 2016, at the party's headquarters in Tokyo. Nikai expressed approval for extending Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's term as LDP president, saying Abe has done a great job and it is desirable to have a stable government. Current LDP rules only allow a party president to hold the post for two consecutive three-year terms. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Japanese lawmaker with letter from Abe may meet Xi

Toshihiro Nikai, a seasoned lawmaker from Japan's Liberal Democratic Party, prepares to makes a speech at Tsinghua University in Beijing on May 22, 2015. Nikai said there is a good chance for him to directly hand Chinese President Xi Jinping a personal letter from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe the following day. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Japan lawmaker with letter from Abe says "possible" to meet Xi

Toshihiro Nikai, a seasoned lawmaker from Japan's Liberal Democratic Party, makes a speech at Tsinghua University in Beijing on May 22, 2015. Nikai said there is a good chance for him to directly hand Chinese President Xi Jinping a personal letter from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe the following day. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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New LDP leadership launched

TOKYO, Japan - Members of the newly launched leadership of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party join hands for photos at LDP headquarters in Tokyo on Sept. 3, 2014. They are (from L) election strategy chief Toshimitsu Motegi, policy chief Tomomi Inada, Vice President Masahiko Komura, President Shinzo Abe, Secretary General Sadakazu Tanigaki and General Council chief Toshihiro Nikai. (Kyodo)

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Abe appoints trusted hands in key LDP roles

Toshihiro Nikai, secretary general of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, speaks at a news conference in Tokyo on Aug. 3, 2017, after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe revamped his party leadership. A veteran politician known for his pro-China stance, Nikai was retained for the post he has held since August 2016. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Abe appoints trusted hands in key LDP roles

Fumio Kishida (2nd from R) and Toshihiro Nikai (C) join hands with other members of the newly revamped lineup of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party leadership for a photo at the party headquarters in Tokyo on Aug. 3, 2017. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe appointed Kishida as chairman of the LDP's policymaking body and retained Nikai as secretary general. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Suga elected new head of Japan's LDP

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga (C) walks in front of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (R) and Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Toshihiro Nikai after being elected as the ruling party's new president in Tokyo on Sept. 14, 2020. Suga is set to be appointed as prime minister by parliament on Sept. 16.

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Suga elected new head of Japan's LDP

Japanese Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Toshihiro Nikai meets the press in Tokyo on Sept. 14, 2020, after Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga was elected the ruling party's president to succeed Prime Minister Shinzo Abe earlier in the day. Suga is set to be appointed prime minister by parliament on Sept. 16.

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Suga elected new head of Japan's LDP

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (R) and Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Toshihiro Nikai (far L, facing camera) are pictured ahead of the ruling party's presidential election on Sept. 14, 2020, in Tokyo. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga won the election and is set to be appointed as prime minister by parliament on Sept. 16.

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LDP leadership race

Fumio Kishida (R), policy chief of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party, and the party's Secretary General Toshihiro Nikai exchange words before the start of a LDP General Council meeting in Tokyo on Sept. 1, 2020. Kishida is preparing to run in the LDP leadership election to choose Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's successor.

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LDP's secretary general

Toshihiro Nikai, secretary general of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party, speaks after meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo on May 18, 2020. The LDP-led government gave up seeking passage of a controversial bill to raise the retirement age for prosecutors during the current parliamentary session. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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LDP's secretary general

Toshihiro Nikai (2nd from L), secretary general of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party, speaks after meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo on May 18, 2020. The LDP-led government gave up seeking passage of a controversial bill to raise the retirement age for prosecutors during the current parliamentary session. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Revision bill over prosecutors' retirement age

Toshihiro Nikai (2nd from R), secretary general of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, speaks to reporters in Tokyo on May 18, 2020, after meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The two agreed to shelve a plan to enact a law to extend the retirement age of prosecutors during the current Diet session, apparently yielding to criticism from the public, sparked by Twitter comments opposing the idea led by celebrities. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Revision bill over prosecutors' retirement age

Toshihiro Nikai, secretary general of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, speaks to reporters in Tokyo on May 18, 2020, after meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The two agreed to shelve a plan to enact a law to extend the retirement age of prosecutors during the current Diet session, apparently yielding to criticism from the public, sparked by Twitter comments opposing the idea led by celebrities. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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LDP executives on measures for virus-hit economy

Toshihiro Nikai (center R), secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party, and Fumio Kishida (center L), the party's policy chief, speak to reporters in Tokyo on April 16, 2020, after having talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on measures to support the economy, hit by the coronavirus pandemic. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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LDP executives on measures for virus-hit economy

Toshihiro Nikai (C), secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party, and Fumio Kishida (L), the party's policy chief, speak to reporters in Tokyo on April 16, 2020, after having talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on measures to support the economy, hit by the coronavirus pandemic. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Japan LDP leadership shake-up

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (R) attends a meeting of Liberal Democratic Party executives at LDP headquarters in Tokyo on Sept. 11, 2019. The party carried out a leadership shake-up -- (from L at the table) Hakubun Shimomura, chairman of the Election Strategy Committee, Fumio Kishida, chairman of the Policy Research Council and Toshihiro Nikai, secretary general among the top four officials under Abe. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Japan LDP leadership shake-up

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (R) speaks with Toshihiro Nikai, secretary general of Abe's Liberal Democratic Party, at LDP headquarters in Tokyo after a party leadership shake-up on Sept. 11, 2019. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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LDP senior official Nikai in Beijing

Toshihiro Nikai (L), secretary general of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, delivers a personal letter from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Chinese President Xi Jinping before their talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on April 24, 2019. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Japan lawmaker Nikai

Toshihiro Nikai, secretary general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party of Japan, delivers a lecture at an academy of the Communist Party of China in Beijing on Dec. 28, 2017. Nikai, the No. 2 man of the party headed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, called for future-oriented relations with China. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Abe re-elected as Japan PM after election victory

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (R) and Toshihiro Nikai, secretary general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party headed by Abe, attend a party meeting in the parliament building in Tokyo on Nov. 1, 2017. Abe was re-elected as the prime minister in a special Diet session later in the day following the LDP's overwhelming victory in the Oct. 22 lower house election. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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LDP sets up election headquarters after dissolution of lower house

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (C), leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, and party Secretary General Toshihiro Nikai (R) cheer on party members on Sept. 28, 2017, as the LDP sets up an election headquarters in Tokyo following the dissolution of the House of Representatives. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Abe eyes early lower house dissolution: Nikai

Toshihiro Nikai, secretary general of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party, speaks at a press conference in Tokyo on Sept. 19, 2017. Nikai revealed that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is considering an early dissolution of the House of Representatives for a general election. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Tokyo assembly election shows tide turning for Koike, against LDP

Toshihiro Nikai (C), secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party, speaks to reporters in Tokyo on July 2, 2017, after the party led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was found to have suffered a major setback in the day's Tokyo metropolitan assembly election. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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LDP heavyweight to attend forum in China, hand letter from Abe to Xi

Toshihiro Nikai (C), secretary general of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party, speaks to reporters in Tokyo on May 11, 2017. Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said a day later that Nikai will attend an international economic forum in Beijing from May 14 and plans to deliver a letter from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Chinese President Xi Jinping. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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LDP heavyweight to attend forum in China, hand letter from Abe to Xi

Toshihiro Nikai (C), secretary general of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party, speaks to reporters in Tokyo on May 11, 2017. Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said a day later that Nikai will attend an international economic forum in Beijing from May 14 and plans to deliver a letter from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Chinese President Xi Jinping. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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LDP heavyweight backs Abe's 3rd term as ruling party leader

Toshihiro Nikai, secretary general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, speaks in an interview with Kyodo News at the LDP's headquarters in Tokyo on Jan. 22, 2017. Nikai expressed support for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe serving a third term as party president, while ruling out a general election in the near future. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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LDP's Nikai says no snap election before year's end

Toshihiro Nikai, secretary general of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, gives a lecture at an Osaka hotel on Dec. 7, 2016. Nikai said Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will not dissolve the House of Representatives for a snap election before the end of the year. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Abe to visit typhoon-damaged areas in Hokkaido, Iwate

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (C) attends a meeting of Liberal Democratic Party executives in Tokyo on Sept. 13, 2016, alongside the party's secretary general Toshihiro Nikai (L) and vice president Masahiko Komura. Abe is scheduled to visit Hokkaido and Iwate Prefecture the next day to observe areas affected by Typhoon Lionrock and talk with local people. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Abe reshuffles Cabinet

Executives of the ruling parties -- (from L) Komeito Secretary General Yoshihisa Inoue, Komeito leader Natsuo Yamaguchi, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who also serves as Liberal Democratic Party president, and LDP Secretary General Toshihiro Nikai -- meet at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Aug. 3, 2016, prior to a Cabinet reshuffle. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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New LDP executive lineup

Photo taken Aug. 3, 2016, shows new executives of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party attending their meeting at the party headquarters in Tokyo. (From L) They are Policy Council Chairman Toshimitsu Motegi, Secretary General Toshihiro Nikai, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who also serves as LDP president, Vice President Masahiko Komura and General Council Chairman Hiroyuki Hosoda. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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New LDP executive lineup

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (4th from L) shakes hands with new executives of his Liberal Democratic Party at its headquarters in Tokyo on Aug. 3, 2016. They include new General Council Chairman Hiroyuki Hosoda (2nd from L), Vice President Masahiko Komura (3rd from L), new Secretary General Toshihiro Nikai (4th from R) and new Policy Council Chairman Toshimitsu Motegi (3rd from R). (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Abe eyes replacing injured LDP secretary general with veteran Nikai

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (L) and Toshihiro Nikai, chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party's General Council, attend a plenary session of the House of Representatives in Tokyo on Aug. 1, 2016. Abe plans to replace hospitalized LDP Secretary General Sadakazu Tanigaki with Nikai, administration sources said the same day. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Abe eyes replacing injured LDP secretary general with veteran Nikai

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (L) and Toshihiro Nikai, chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party's General Council, attend a plenary session of the House of Representatives in Tokyo on Aug. 1, 2016. Abe plans to replace hospitalized LDP Secretary General Sadakazu Tanigaki with Nikai, administration sources said the same day. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Abe eyes replacing injured LDP secretary general with veteran Nikai

Hiroyuki Hosoda, acting Liberal Democratic Party secretary general, speaks to reporters after meeting with Prime Minister and LDP President Shinzo Abe in Tokyo on Aug. 1, 2016. Hosoda will likely replace Toshihiro Nikai as chairman of the party's General Council, administration sources said the same day. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Abe eyes replacing injured LDP secretary general with veteran Nikai

Toshihiro Nikai (C), chairman of the General Council of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, speaks to reporters at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Aug. 1, 2016, after a meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Abe, as LDP president, plans to replace party Secretary General Sadakazu Tanigaki, who has been hospitalized due to a neck injury, with Nikai, administration sources said the same day. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Former U.N. exec officer Oshima named Australian envoy

TOKYO, Japan - Kenzo Oshima (3rd from L), former U.N. undersecretary general in charge of humanitarian affairs, has been named Japanese ambassador to Australia, the government said July 22. Other newly appointed ambassadors are (top, from L to R) Hiroshi Sakurai to Jamaica, Tomoyuki Abe to Turkey, Shigenobu Kato to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, (bottom, from L to R) Hajime Tsujimoto to the United Arab Emirates, Toshihiro Takahashi to Paraguay, Haruo Okamoto to the Dominican Republic and Tokumitsu Murakami to Lebanon. (Kyodo)