道歉难掩“丑闻循环”：日本政坛沉疴中的黑金风波与高市内阁

Core Viewpoint - The political scandal involving "black money" continues to plague Japan, with Prime Minister Sanna Takichi apologizing for her party's violations regarding corporate donations, highlighting ongoing issues of corruption within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) [1][2]. Group 1: Political Scandal and Reactions - Prime Minister Sanna Takichi's apology was brief, acknowledging the receipt of donations exceeding legal limits and stating that the excess had been returned [2][3]. - The opposition party, Constitutional Democratic Party, has been vocally questioning Takichi about the "black money" issue, indicating a lack of trust among the public [1][2]. - The Komeito party, which recently ended a 26-year alliance with the LDP, has also criticized the government, questioning its integrity [1]. Group 2: Financial Violations - The LDP's Nara Prefecture branch, represented by Takichi, received 2.5 million yen (approximately 110,000 RMB) in donations that exceeded legal limits, raising concerns about the party's financial practices [2][3]. - The political funding management group associated with Takichi reported total income of 200 million yen (approximately 9.03 million RMB) for 2024, making the excess donations seem minor in comparison [3][4]. - The LDP's financial reports revealed significant expenditures on advertising, totaling 83.84 million yen (approximately 3.78 million RMB), raising questions about the transparency of political funding [4]. Group 3: Historical Context and Systemic Issues - The "black money" issue is not new and has been a recurring problem in Japanese politics, with systemic corruption being a significant barrier to political stability [9][10]. - A report indicated that 85 members of the LDP had failed to declare taxes, with some cases dating back over 20 years, suggesting a long-standing culture of financial misconduct [10]. - The recent changes in leadership, with three prime ministers in over a year, reflect the ongoing turmoil and the impact of corruption scandals on political careers [10][11].