Photo/Illutration A campaign poster for Yoshimasa Hayashi in the 2024 Lower House election (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

At least six individuals who were listed as being paid for work in the 2024 Lower House campaign by the Yamaguchi Prefecture office of Yoshimasa Hayashi, the internal affairs minister, denied any involvement or payment.

The six people who were listed as having received remuneration told The Asahi Shimbun they never received any money nor worked on the campaign.

“Why would I help out with a campaign when I did not even go to vote in last year’s election?” said one man in his 80s. 

The Public Offices Election Law requires the submittal to the prefectural election administration commission of campaign expenditure reports that contain the name of the individual, how much was paid and when and for performing what kind of campaign work. A receipt of the expenditure also has to be attached.

Any false entries or receipts could lead to a maximum penalty of three years' imprisonment or a 500,000 yen ($3,200) fine.

Speaking to reporters in Sakuho, Nagano Prefecture, on Nov. 15, Hayashi denied any wrongdoing.

"There are no problems with the expenditures under the Public Offices Election Law," he said.

In the report filed by Hayashi’s office, about 270 individuals received a total of about 3.16 million yen for providing various types of campaign work.

The Asahi contacted those listed in the report and most who responded said they received payment for campaign work.

But as of Nov. 14, six individuals living in the municipalities making up the Yamaguchi No. 3 district that Hayashi represents said they did not do any work and received no money.

The Asahi obtained copies of the receipts based on an information disclosure request. The six individuals were said to have received the maximum of 10,000 yen for putting up campaign posters.

The six were shown copies of the receipts attached to the report and they all said the handwriting was not their own.

Another man in his 80s said he had no reason to write out a receipt. When asked if he had any contact with Hayashi, the man said he had listened to a campaign speech and had visited Hayashi’s election office, where he may have written down his name.

Another man expressed displeasure at having his signature used without his knowledge or permission.

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