Misused public funds
Japan's Board of Audit Finds METI Responsible for Largest Share of ¥54 Billion in Wasteful FY2024 Spending
Confidence: Confirmed · 3 sourcesJapan · Sep 22, 2026
Subject of this story
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)
Also named
Oversight
Board of Audit of Japan
What happened
Japan's Board of Audit submitted its fiscal 2024 settlement inspection report to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on November 5, 2025, identifying about ¥54.081 billion in wasteful or ineffective spending across 319 government projects, plus 271 separate cases of legal violations or improper budget execution totaling over ¥8.6 billion. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry accounted for the largest share of the waste, misspending roughly ¥22.058 billion.
By the numbers (1)
● confirmed by a primary document · ○ reported
Figures
○
Japan's Board of Audit reported wasteful and ineffective use of taxpayer money totalling about ¥54.081 billion across 319 projects in fiscal 2024.54.1B JPY
1 source
- The Japan Times
totaled about ¥54.081 billion in 319 projects, according to a Board of Audit report
Sources (3)
SourceAnnual report summarizing fiscal 2024 audit findings, including wasteful and ineffective use of public funds by ministry.
The Japan TimesWasteful and ineffective use of taxpayer money by the Japanese government in fiscal 2024 totaled about ¥54.081 billion in 319 projects, according to a Board of Audit report.
NikkeiThe Board of Audit reported roughly ¥540.81 billion in wasted or improperly used tax funds for fiscal 2024, with fraud in medical welfare and small-business subsidies notable.
Response
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)
Not yet contacted
Not yet contacted for this story.
What happened next (0)
No outcome recorded yet.