PM Takaichi says US sanctions on Japanese ICC chief 'very unfortunate'

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi expressed disappointment on Wednesday over the United States' sanctioning of Tomoko Akane, Japan's representative on the International Criminal Court (ICC). Following the U.S. action on Tuesday, Takaichi addressed reporters in Tokyo, stating her government would continue dialogue with relevant nations, including the U.S. Foreign Press Secretary Toshihiro Kitamura confirmed Japan's consistent support for the ICC in prosecuting and punishing severe crimes of international concern.

Kitamura added that Tokyo remains committed to strengthening global rule of law through dialogue with related countries and others.

The sanctions were announced as President Donald Trump's administration has criticized the ICC for investigating U.S. military personnel accused of war crimes in Afghanistan, and issuing an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the Gaza Strip campaign. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the ICC as a corrupt and politicized supranational court, alleging it has abused its authority and exceeded its mandate.

The sanctions also targeted Senegal's Abdoulaye Seye, an ICC senior trial lawyer. Former prosecutor Akane, Japan's first female president of the ICC, began her three-year term in March 2024. She was involved in issuing an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin over allegations of deporting Ukrainian children in Ukraine's full-scale invasion.

Russia subsequently added her to its list of wanted individuals. With this latest sanction, Washington has targeted nine of the ICC's 18 judges, including Akane, freezing their assets in the U.S. and restricting their access to the U.S. financial system.