The Liberal Democratic Party lost a large number of seats to Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike's upstart Tomin First Party in the Tokyo assembly election. Media surveys reveal that the public is dismayed by recent scandals involving the LDP, in particular the one surrounding educational company Kake Gakuen, which may have received special attention from LDP bigwigs in approving the company's new veterinary department. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is reportedly a close friend of Kake's chairman.

Abe and the LDP continue to deny the allegations, and by doing so they can pin the poor election showing on the media, which is pursuing them. The LDP could make the case that the loss was caused by a malevolent, conniving press and thus disregard the accepted truth that the citizens of Tokyo, for better or worse, are impressed with Koike's performance so far as governor. They supported the people she supports, some of whom bolted the LDP for Tomin First to take advantage of her popularity.

Hakubun Shimomura, deputy secretary general of the LDP and the head of its Tokyo chapter, characterized the anti-media version of events even before the election was held. In its July 6 issue, the weekly Shukan Bunshun reported that while he was education minister, Shimomura received ¥2 million in political donations from Kake Gakuen that were not properly reported. Shukan Bunshun produced digital copies of internal documents to prove it.