Taro Yamamoto arrested for "dangerous driving"

It would be unavoidable to be said that people's lives are being neglected. I am Taro Yamamoto, the representative of the Reiwa Shinsengumi. "Daily Shincho" first reported on this issue in March. After that, no matter how many times I asked through the party, "How many kilometers was over?," he only made excuses and refused to reveal the details. However, in the evening of July 3, he finally announced himself. When I opened the lid, it was an amazing 69 kilometers over.

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Detour to Oita with two staff to enjoy surfing

The following is a statement posted on Reiwa's website in the evening.

Representative Taro Yamamoto (hereinafter referred to as Representative Yamamoto) was fined and suspended for violating the Road Traffic Law. Based on this, the Party has given Representative Yamamoto a strict warning by the Secretary-General. The Party takes this matter seriously and will once again request Representative Yamamoto to comply with laws and regulations and ensure safe driving, and will strive to prevent recurrence.

[Outline of the case] October 9, 2025 (Thursday) Around 2: 34 pm, Mr. Yamamoto was driving a rental car and driving on the Higashi-Kyushu Expressway. At the starting point of Tosu, 138.3 km post (Yokoo, Oita City, Oita Prefecture), he drove at 149 km / h (*) at the legal speed of 80 km / h and was arrested for violating the legal speed. For this traffic violation, a criminal punishment of a summary order fine (90,000 yen) was imposed on April 20, 2026 (Monday), and an administrative punishment of suspension of driving license (90 days) was issued on May 15, 2026 (Friday). * Photography and recording by Orvis (speed violation automatic control device)

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Mr. Yamamoto's former private secretary, Mr. B, accused Mr. Yamamoto of the "Orvis speeding problem." He was a contractor of a rental car and received a "summons" from the Oita Prefectural Police. The summons stated that he was detected by Orvis (speed violation automatic control device) while driving a rental car on the Higashi Kyushu Expressway at around 2: 34 pm on October 9 last year.

Mr. B who was carried a land surfboard by Shinkansen

Yamamoto spoke to supporters in Yatsushiro City, Kumamoto Prefecture on October 8 and Tosu City, Saga Prefecture on October 9, but in between, he and two staff members made a detour to Oita to enjoy surfing.

"The representative made me carry my favorite surfboard from my home in Tokyo to Kumamoto with the intention of enjoying surfing on this business trip to Kyushu. On the way, I had work in Osaka, so I was on the land all the time. I received detailed instructions to reserve the end of the Shinkansen car so that I could put the board. The rental car I rented was also a large luxury car with a surfboard. I was acting separately on the day, but I knew that driving was rough on a daily basis, so I thought" I was finally killed "(Mr. B)

Mr. B learned about this matter in November when he was contacted by a car rental company. However, Mr. Yamamoto received a report from Mr. B, but left it as "stay for the time being." After all, Mr. Yamamoto appeared at the Oita Prefectural Police on January 22 after receiving a summons letter to Mr. B's parents. This day was the day after Mr. Yamamoto suddenly confessed that he was "one step ahead" of "multiple myeloma" and held a press conference to resign as a member of the House of Councillors.

you've been mischievously delaying the announcement.

Daily Shincho distributed the accusation article of Mr. B on March 12, but it was unclear how many kilometers over the violation was. Of course, I asked the party with a letter of inquiry, but the party ignored the answer, saying, "It is true that there was a speeding violation, and we are responding appropriately after adjusting the schedule for the subsequent appearance request." Even if I sent a letter of inquiry again in April, I will withhold an answer because it is still in the process and the disposition (of the prosecution) has not been confirmed.

At a regular press conference on June 5, Deputy Secretary-General Takai was asked about this matter by a freelance reporter, and suddenly revealed the fact that the punishment had come out, saying, "Since the prosecution's disposition has been decided, we will consider the disposition within the party from now on. We will inform you when the result is decided." However, he did not intend to announce the details because the disposition within the party has not been decided after that.

On June 26, when the interviewer asked directly at the press conference, he said, "I'm not going to postpone it unnecessarily," but did not answer.

Asked by a freelance reporter at the press conference today (July 3), "We will announce it on both days."

However, immediately after the press conference, he quietly announced it on the website. As mentioned above, the summary order was received on April 20, and the administrative suspension was received on May 15. No matter how I think about it, I can only think that he was trying to postpone the announcement unnecessarily.

Exceeding 60 kilometers on expressways is "dangerous driving"

Orvis on the expressway was said to glow at 40 km or more, but the figure of 69 km over, which far exceeded expectations, was also shocking. Yamamoto was running at 149 km on the highway with a speed limit of 80 km.

"When the representative flew, it was natural to fly 140 to 150 kilometers, so I am never surprised" (Mr. B mentioned above)

On July 1, the revised Motor Vehicle Driving Punishment Act was promulgated, adding numerical standards to the crime of dangerous driving causing death or injury. The newly established numerical standards are "over 50 kilometers on general roads" and "over 60 kilometers on expressways." In other words, Mr. Yamamoto was "dangerous driving."

What is the governance of the Party, which has not only delayed publication, but is trying to do with strict caution?

I wonder if Mr. Yamamoto, who does not appear on the table at all and does not even make an apology comment, has the qualification to call himself a politician.

Daily Shincho Editorial Department

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