Civil servant to face non-jury Special Criminal Court over alleged leaks to foreign handler

In reaction to the Trump administration's August 18 announcement of sanctions against International Criminal Court (ICC) President Tomoko Akane and others, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi expressed strong disapproval on August 25. Takaichi stated that the U.S. move was "not consistent with Japan's position" and that she found it "with great concern." Despite her government's response, critics argued that it was "weak-kneed."

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the sanctions, labeling the ICC as "a corrupt and fatally politicized supranational court that has maliciously abused its authority and exceeded its mandate." In Japan's media landscape, the sanctions sparked widespread criticism. Editorial boards in major national newspapers largely opposed the U.S. action and urged Tokyo to adopt a firmer stance on the matter.