The Board of Audit found ¥144.57bn in overpaid subsidies and underused assets across government ministries and state-funded bodies in its fiscal 2025 audit, and submitted the report to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Thursday.
The board called for corrections in 250 cases in total. It audits how tax money is spent from a position independent of the cabinet.
Board president Yuhei Harada said the audit focused on public safety, social security, defense and digital policy. "These all bear deeply on people's economic and social activity and their daily lives," he said. "I hope the findings help in budget drafting, in deliberations on the settlement and in improving administration."
Violations and misspending
The board classified 211 cases, involving ¥11.18bn, as improper — a category covering legal violations and inappropriate budget execution.
By ministry, the land, infrastructure, transport and tourism ministry accounted for the largest sum, ¥26.03bn across 39 cases. The health, labor and welfare ministry followed with ¥12.83bn across 70 cases.