Japan's PM attends jewelry awards wearing $160,000 in borrowed gems, drawing public backlash

Controversy is spreading in Japan after Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae attended an awards ceremony wearing jewelry valued at around 26 million yen ($160,000), amid a political standoff that has brought the National Assembly to a near-standstill.

According to Japanese outlet Toyo Keizai Online on Tuesday, Takaichi attended the 37th Japan Jewelry Best Dresser Awards in Tokyo on Saturday and received a special prize — the first sitting Japanese prime minister to win the award.

Takaichi wore borrowed pearl-and-diamond earrings valued at 1.8 million yen and a necklace valued at 8 million yen to the event. The company that provided the jewelry was not disclosed.

At the ceremony, she said she would "work hard so that people can feel Japan's future is as bright as the light of jewelry." All the pieces were returned after the event; the only items she actually received were a certificate and a trophy.

The Japan Jewelry Best Dresser Awards, held annually since 1990, recognizes individuals nominated by industry insiders who best embody the pairing of jewelry and public prominence over the past year. The organizers said they honored Takaichi with the special prize in part because she has consistently worn Japanese pearls at official events, helping promote the value and appeal of domestically produced gems.

Once news of the award spread online, however, criticism mounted quickly.

Takaichi has drawn opposition party fire in recent weeks over allegations that her secretary posted videos on social media disparaging rival candidates during the Liberal Democratic Party leadership election. Rather than appearing before the National Assembly in person to address the matter, she said she would submit a written statement from the secretary. The dispute has since escalated into a broader ruling-opposition standoff over whether to hold a focused budget committee review and a party leaders' debate, effectively freezing the legislative calendar.

Against that backdrop, the prime minister's appearance at a glittering awards ceremony drew further public criticism.

"The prime minister, who is letting the National Assembly stall and dodging the focused review meant to clear up the allegations, was all smiles at a flashy jewelry awards show," one internet user wrote. "This desperate inversion of priorities goes beyond mere displeasure — it makes me sick."

Another user said, "Nobody supports something like a Best Dresser Award that torments the Japanese public," adding, "The salary she receives comes from taxpayers' money."

Meanwhile, Takaichi's average approval rating across polls from eight major Japanese news organizations stands at around 60 percent, still relatively high. Observers say the longer the legislative paralysis drags on, the greater the political cost will become.

In Japanese political circles, the timing and the question of priorities are seen as more damaging than the ceremony attendance itself. With the National Assembly's return to normal business delayed, her appearance at a high-profile event has prompted criticism that she has failed to manage her political messaging.