The 2025 House of Councillors Election resulted in major gains for the far-right Sanseito (“san-SAY-toe”), or “Political Party DIY.” For 10 points each:
[10m] This politician resigned following that election. This politician defeated the far-right Sanae Takaichi in the 2024 LDP presidential election, leading him to succeed Fumio Kishida as Prime Minister.
ANSWER: Shigeru Ishiba [or Ishiba Shigeru]
[10h] The downfall of Ishiba’s predecessor, Kishida, was a result of this corruption scandal. This scandal alleged that a number of LDP politicians used illegal kickbacks and unreported fundraising to build illicit treasuries.
ANSWER: slush fund scandal [or 2023-2024 slush fund scandal; or LDP slush fund scandal; or Japanese slush fund scandal]
[10e] The illegal activities of the slush fund scandal were primarily carried out by members of a right-wing faction named for this former prime minister of Japan, who was assassinated over his ties to the Unification Church.
ANSWER: Shinzo Abe (“AH-bay”) [or Abe Shinzo; accept Abe faction]
<Jacob Hardin-Bernhardt, Current Events>