<figure id="attachment_396735" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 711px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-396735"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="ec0af43f"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2024/10/e9d0ee8c62149157e31c4f5054da3e3e.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-396735" class="wp-caption-text">Takushi Otsuka&#8217;s remarks at a meeting with supporters have been reported. He is aiming for election victory in Saitama Prefecture in this weekend&#8217;s general election.</figcaption></figure>
<h2>“He is being mocked even by elementary school students.&#8221;</h2>
As the general election for the House of Representatives approaches this weekend, the competition between candidates is becoming increasingly intense.
One of the major themes of this election is the Liberal Democratic Party&#8217;s under-the-table money issue. Politicians involved in this scandal are unable to run in both the proportional representation and district races, facing a do-or-die situation in the election.
Among them, one candidate who stands out is Takushi Otsuka (51), a member of the Liberal Democratic Party running for the 9th district in Saitama. Otsuka was born into the founding family of the long-established shoe manufacturer Otsuka Seika and graduated from Keio University. After working at Tokyo Mitsubishi Bank (now Mitsubishi UFJ Bank), he was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2005. In 2008, he married former Environment Minister Tamayo Marukawa (53) of the LDP. He is now a veteran politician serving his fifth term, with experience as Deputy Finance Minister.
However, Otsuka has been embroiled in several scandals since this summer. A political reporter from a national newspaper shares:
&#8220;On August 20, Bunshun Online reported that during a meeting with supporters in Moroyama Town, Saitama on July 30, Otsuka criticized former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi (43), who had run for LDP president, saying, &#8216;He’s not qualified,&#8217; and &#8216;He’s being ridiculed even by elementary school students.&#8217;
Additionally, Daily Shincho reported on October 22 that Otsuka had also criticized former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (67) during the same meeting.&#8221;
This time, FRIDAY Digital has also obtained an audio recording from the July 30 meeting. Upon reviewing the data, it was revealed that Otsuka made even more shocking remarks.
<div data-friday-ad-slot="AD_inArticle"></div>
<div data-friday-nextpage-lead="He said, Six years from now, I will be the prime minister."></div>
<h2>Desire for the Prime Minister Revealed to Supporters</h2>
Otsuka revealed his aspirations to become Prime Minister to his supporters during a meeting held a month before the LDP presidential election, in which Shigeru Ishiba (67) emerged victorious. The conversation also turned to the U.S. presidential election, which had garnered much attention, particularly Kamala Harris (60), who was running for president. When asked about Harris, Otsuka responded as follows:
&#8220;From a security standpoint, the U.S. president relies on the nuclear button. This nuclear button is essential for ensuring the safety of our allied nations through nuclear deterrence. The final trigger is the U.S. president, but if (Harris) becomes president and is seen as too timid to press the nuclear button, that would be a problem.&#8221;
In a surprising comment directed at a U.S. presidential candidate, he referred to Harris as too timid. When the discussion shifted to the under-the-table money issue, Otsuka became more verbose, sharing his thoughts:
&#8220;At first, I thought the prosecutors were leaking information. I got so angry that I confronted them. I told them that leaking information was beyond their authority. But the prosecutors and the Ministry of Justice denied everything, saying it wasn’t them. Eventually, I found out that it was the party&#8217;s legal advisor leaking the information.&#8221;
As the meeting became more animated, Otsuka spoke about his support for former Minister of Economic Security, Takayuki Kobayashi (49), and how he envisioned a future &#8220;Kobayashi administration&#8221;:
&#8220;If Kobayashi becomes prime minister, we have a relationship of trust, so I am promised a ministerial position. (Pause) To be honest, my target is six years from now. I feel that I will be needed as prime minister around that time. In six years, I aim to become the prime minister.&#8221;
When asked for comment, Otsuka’s office responded:
&#8220;The remarks were made in a social setting where alcohol was involved, and they were not meant to be made public. It is extremely inappropriate for them to be reported.&#8221;
In response to the individual remarks:
■ Regarding the offensive comments about U.S. presidential candidates:
&#8220;It was a statement made in a drinking gathering, and while the language was inappropriate for public disclosure, what I meant to express was my desire for the U.S. president to be resolute in defending allied nations.&#8221;
■ Regarding the claim that a party legal advisor leaked information about the under-the-table money issue:
&#8220;This is based on information I received directly from a reporter covering the political funding issue.&#8221;
■ Regarding the remark about himself becoming prime minister:
&#8220;I was not implying that it was my time now. I was simply saying that while I support Kobayashi, I also have ambitions for the future.&#8221;
Although these comments were made in a private, supporter-only setting, they reflect a certain carelessness. Whether Otsuka is fit to be the people&#8217;s representative will be determined by the outcome of the election in Saitama’s 9th district.
<div data-friday-ad-slot="AD_inArticle"></div>

 Kyodo News

 Taku Otsuka, a candidate for the House of Representatives, is facing the election as a backwater candidate because he is reported to be a slush fund member of the House of Representatives and is not allowed to run for a seat in the proportional election. He has been the subject of several scandals, but this magazine has uncovered new revelations about him. The following are the details.

Takushi Otsuka’s Shocking Remarks on U.S. Presidential Candidate and Prime Minister Ambitions at Secret Meeting

Access Ranking