Sanae Takaichi Cancels NHK Appearance Due to Arm Injury During Campaign

Prime Minister of Japan Sanae Takaichi was forced to cancel her scheduled appearance on the NHK political debate program in early February due to an injury. This incident highlights how a politician’s commitment during intensive campaigns can impact health, especially for those with chronic health conditions.

Why This NHK Event Is Important Due to Its Strategic Schedule

The scheduled NHK program is a pre-election discussion designed to feature leaders from various political parties directly to the public. Such events are crucial in the context of Japanese politics because they provide candidates with the opportunity to present their visions in real-time. Therefore, the absence of a key figure like the Prime Minister becomes significant news.

Injury Occurred Due to Intensive Interaction with Supporters

According to reports from Japanese media including Yahoo News Japan and Kyodo News, Takaichi sustained an injury to her arm while giving a speech on the street and shaking hands with supporters during a campaign event. This injury resulted from the intensive routine of a Prime Minister who continuously interacts with the public.

This condition was worsened by rheumatoid arthritis that Takaichi had previously—an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in the joints. The combination of an acute injury and this chronic condition led to significant swelling in her hand. Takaichi later posted an explanation on the social media platform X, confirming that her hand had been properly bandaged and stabilized for healing.

Norihisa Tamura Filled the Position Due to Takaichi’s Absence

Because Takaichi was unable to attend, Norihisa Tamura, who serves as the interim policy head of the Liberal Democratic Party, attended the NHK program in her place. This substitution ensured that the Liberal Democratic Party remained represented in the important debate, even though the Prime Minister could not participate directly.