Anri Kawai May 2026

: Both Kawai and her husband were arrested in June 2020. She eventually resigned her seat in the House of Councillors in February 2021.

Born in 1973 in Nobeoka, Miyazaki Prefecture, Kawai graduated from Keio University before beginning her political career in local government. She served four terms in the Hiroshima Prefectural Assembly, establishing herself as a viable candidate for national office. In 2019, she made the jump to the national stage, running for a seat in the House of Councillors representing Hiroshima. Her campaign was notable for its heavy backing from top Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership, including then-Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga and Secretary-General Toshihiro Nikai. anri kawai

The turning point in Kawai’s career came with her victory in the July 2019 election. Shortly after, allegations surfaced that her campaign had engaged in extensive "vote-buying." Investigations revealed that Kawai and her husband, former Justice Minister Katsuyuki Kawai, had distributed cash to local politicians and supporters to secure her seat. A particularly controversial detail was the reported ¥150 million in funding provided by the LDP headquarters to her campaign, which far exceeded the support typically given to candidates. The fallout was swift and severe: : Both Kawai and her husband were arrested in June 2020

: A legendary City Pop singer famous for 1980s hits like "Cat's Eye". She served four terms in the Hiroshima Prefectural

: A contemporary performer and adult film actress born in 1988, who is unrelated to the political figure.

: The scandal is cited as a major blow to the administration of Shinzo Abe and later Yoshihide Suga, highlighting issues of internal party favoritism and the lengths taken to win competitive regional seats. Note on Other Identifiers

: On January 20, 2021, the Tokyo District Court found her guilty of violating the Public Offices Election Act. She was sentenced to 16 months in prison, suspended for five years.