Sanae Takaichi says Japan lobbied US "until the last moment" before US sanctions on ICC officials

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi says Japan lobbied the United States through multiple official channels before Washington imposed sanctions on Tomoko Akane, the Japanese jurist who heads the International Criminal Court, and another court official. Her initial reaction, calling the measure regrettable, was criticized at home as too soft; she later said the action went against Tokyo’s position. The dispute exposes tension between Japan’s longtime support for international legal institutions and its security alliance with the US. Critics argue the government should object more strongly, while Akane has called on Tokyo to use its ties to Washington to discourage additional measures against the court.