THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
March 15, 2025 at 14:01 JST
A suspect is in custody after a political party leader who has courted controversy with disruptive election campaign tactics was slashed with a blade in Tokyo on March 14.
Takashi Tachibana, 57, who heads the anti-NHK party, was cut on his head and neck area with a machete-like weapon at around 5 p.m. in front of the economy and trade ministry.
But the injuries were not serious.
Police arrested Shion Miyanishi, 30, at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder.
According to investigative sources, Miyanishi told police he attacked Tachibana because he drove a local assembly member to suicide.
At the time of the attack, a demonstration was being held on the streets calling for the dismantling of the Finance Ministry.
A man in his 50s said Tachibana was attacked almost immediately after he arrived at the scene.
An Asahi Shimbun reporter said Tachibana was posing for photos with supporters when the assailant raised both arms and jumped on the politician, who was pushed backward.
Tachibana was seen bleeding from near his ear when an ambulance attendant treated him.
He later used a mike to explain what happened, mentioning that he did not know the attacker, a witness said.
Tachibana, whose party opposes public broadcaster Japan Broadcasting Corp. (NHK), has run in a number of gubernatorial elections. He is currently a candidate in the Chiba governor’s race, where voters will cast ballots on March 16.
In last year’s Hyogo gubernatorial election, Tachibana was a candidate but his campaign efforts were mainly directed at gaining support for eventual winner Motohiko Saito.
Saito had earlier been forced out of the post over allegations of harassment and corruption.
During the election campaign, Tachibana is believed to have spread leaked information about Hideaki Takeuchi, a member of a committee that had investigated the allegations against Saito.
Takeuchi resigned from the assembly the day after Saito won the election and died in an apparent suicide in January.
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Takashi Tachibana, head of the anti-NHK party, speaks after he was attacked near the Finance Ministry in Tokyo on March 14. (Provided by eyewitness)
