On October 8, as part of the recent House of Representatives election, Prime Minister Sanae Takai's office distributed catalog gifts valued at 1,000,000 yen to each of the elected members of her party, amounting to 30,000 yen per person. While Takai described the gift as a token of appreciation for their election victories, experts have raised concerns about the commonality of such a hefty gift expense. Gift coordinator Izumi Tomita expressed that a more reasonable amount for such gestures, especially from a superior to subordinates, would typically be around 10,000 yen.

Tomita elaborated on the benefits of catalog gifts, emphasizing that they allow recipients to choose items that suit their personal preferences. This format is particularly useful when the giver is short on time or does not know the recipient’s tastes well, as well as when gifts need to be distributed en masse. Takai herself later explained via social media that the rationale for the catalog gifts was due to the lack of time to select suitable items for each individual, suggesting that the high cost was a practical decision rather than an indulgent one.

However, the practice of giving such lavish gifts has faced scrutiny in recent years. Since the late 2000s, there has been a growing trend towards 'abolishing formalities', which has weakened the traditional culture of exchanging gifts like year-end gifts and mid-year gifts among companies and organizations. Coupled with prolonged economic stagnation and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a noticeable decline in the financial commitment to catalog gifts in recent times, raising questions about the appropriateness of a 30,000-yen gift during such challenging times.