ICC President Tomoko Akane met a cross‑party delegation of Japanese lawmakers in The Hague on Friday, requesting stronger backing for the tribunal amid U.S. sanctions against her and other ICC officials. The meeting is the first between Akane and the group since Washington imposed sanctions on the ICC in October, accusing the court of infringing on state sovereignty.
Akane, who is the first Japanese national to head the ICC, reminded lawmakers that Japan has been the biggest financial contributor and has supplied judges to the court. She urged Japan to take a leadership role in removing the sanctions and to communicate with the United States about the court’s legitimacy.
After the meeting, Yasue Funayama, a co‑head of the parliamentarians’ group, told reporters: “I felt anew that Japan should take the lead in taking action toward the removal of the sanctions with a strong determination that our country should say what must be said to the United States because we are allies.”
Japan’s top government spokesman Minoru Kihara said the country is considering what financial assistance it can provide to the ICC. Former Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda of the delegation added: “Japan, which has been advocating for the rule of law, should not waver when the ICC is facing a crisis.”
These statements highlight the stakes for Japan’s role in the international justice system and the potential diplomatic fallout if sanctions are not lifted. The meeting signals Japan’s resolve to support the court’s mission while navigating its alliance with the United States.
