In brief
In a high‑profile meeting at the ICC headquarters, President Tomoko Akane pressed Japanese lawmakers to champion the court, citing Japan’s status as the largest financial contributor. The delegation, led by figures such as Yasue Funayama and former Defence Minister Gen Nakatani, pledged support and urged Washington to lift sanctions imposed on ICC officials. U.S. action, driven by a Trump‑era backlash over perceived sovereignty encroachment, marks a pivotal tension in the court’s legitimacy and Japan’s diplomatic stance.
The International Criminal Court’s chief, Tomoko Akane, convened a cross‑party delegation of Japanese lawmakers in The Hague on Friday, urging the nation to reinforce its backing for the tribunal despite ongoing U.S. sanctions targeting her and other ICC officials.
The meeting took place at the ICC headquarters, where Akane, the first Japanese national to head the court, highlighted Japan’s role as the largest financial contributor and as a source of judges, including herself. She called for Japan to lead an effort to lift the sanctions and to communicate firmly with the United States, which imposed them in August and expanded them in October under President Donald Trump.
The delegation, described as bipartisan, has visited the ICC and pledged its support according to an NHK report released two hours earlier. The visit followed the U.S. action that Washington accused the ICC of encroaching on state sovereignty. By traveling to The Hague, the lawmakers signaled a commitment to the rule of law and the protection of human rights diplomacy.
Akane’s remarks came amid a broader push by the U.N. to draw “concrete action from member states” in defense of the court. She emphasized that Japan, as a major donor, should remain steadfast when the ICC faces a crisis, underscoring its position as the largest financial contributor and its continuity of sending judges.
Speaking after the meeting, Yasue Funayama, co‑head of the parliamentarians’ group with former Defence Minister Gen Nakatani, said that the delegation wants Japan to take a leading role in removing the sanctions. She added that Japan should say what must be said to the United States because the two countries are allies. In a
statement, she said, “I felt anew that Japan should take the lead in taking action toward the removal of the sanctions with a strong determination.”
Concurrently, Japan’s top government spokesman Minoru Kihara indicated that Tokyo is assessing further financial assistance it can provide to the ICC. “Japan, which has been advocating for the rule of law, should not waver when the ICC is facing a crisis,” Yoshihiko Noda, later‑served prime minister, wrote to Japanese members of the delegation. In a
statement, Noda added, “We will join forces across party lines to support the ICC.”
The sanctions, which target Akane and other ICC officials, remain a point of contention between Washington and the rest of the international community. Japan’s pledge of support, bolstered by the forceful calls from lawmakers and executive officials alike, signals a united front within the country to uphold the institution’s legitimacy and to push back against perceived overreach by the United States.
