Toyama police seize original census forms from ministry in population-padding probe
In short
Toyama prefectural police have obtained the original 2025 national census survey forms from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications and are analysing them, according to investigative sources cited by local outlets on October 6. The ministry had filed a criminal complaint alleging that Toyama city staff inflated the city's census population in violation of the Statistics Act. Nippon TV News reported the inflation is thought to be at least 2,000 people.
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Toyama prefectural police have obtained the original survey forms from the 2025 national census from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications and are examining them in an investigation into suspected inflation of Toyama city's population, according to investigative sources cited by Nippon TV News, TBS NEWS DIG and the Yomiuri Shimbun on October 6. Nippon TV News reported that police are checking whether any forms do not match the facts. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Nippon TV News reported that the police took the forms by seizure because the ministry has a duty of confidentiality and cannot hand them over voluntarily. The survey forms are filled in by residents for each household. The Yomiuri Shimbun reported that they record the number of household members and each member's name, date of birth and employment status, and are the basis for calculating population. Census workers collect them, municipalities and prefectures review them, and they are then submitted to and stored by the ministry. [ 1 , 3 ]
The city is suspected of inflating its population by methods such as restoring, without grounds, households that census workers had confirmed during field checks as having no residents and had deleted, Nippon TV News reported. The broadcaster said the inflation is thought to be at least 2,000 people. [ 1 ]
The ministry filed a criminal complaint with the prefectural police on September 29 on suspicion of violating the Statistics Act, naming the responsible city official without giving a name, according to Nippon TV News. On October 3 police searched the city's planning and coordination division, which handles statistics, and seized past census documents and internal communications, the broadcaster reported. The Yomiuri Shimbun also reported that police seized related documents from the division at city hall. [ 1 , 3 ]
Nippon TV News reported that ministry officials believe several employees were involved, and that police are questioning those concerned. The Yomiuri Shimbun said police are investigating the reasons for and circumstances of the inflation. A TBS NEWS DIG headline quoted an expert saying a line that must not be crossed had been crossed, referred to the 'pride of 400,000', and said the gap between census and resident register figures had narrowed sharply from 2015. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The case concerns the accuracy of the national census, the base data for population figures, and has led to a criminal investigation of a city government department. Nippon TV News reported that ministry officials believe several employees were involved, so the inquiry may reach beyond a single official.
Key facts
- Toyama prefectural police obtained the original census survey forms from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications and are examining them. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The ministry filed a criminal complaint on September 29 under the Statistics Act against the responsible Toyama city official, whose name was not given. [ 1 ]
- On October 3 police searched the city's planning and coordination division, which handles statistics, and seized census-related documents and internal communications. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The city is suspected of restoring, without grounds, households that census workers had deleted after finding no one lived there. [ 1 ]
- The inflation is thought to be at least 2,000 people, Nippon TV News reported. [ 1 ]
- Police are questioning people involved and investigating the reasons for and circumstances of the inflation. [ 1 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Toyama prefectural police obtained the original census survey forms from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications and are examining them. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The case concerns suspected inflation of Toyama city's population in the 2025 national census. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Police searched the city's planning and coordination division under suspicion of violating the Statistics Act and seized related documents. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Police are questioning people involved in the case. [ 1 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- How large the population inflation was. Only Nippon TV News gave a figure, saying it is thought to be at least 2,000 people.
- How many city employees were involved. Nippon TV News reported that ministry officials believe several employees were involved; the complaint named no individual.
- Why the population was inflated. Yomiuri Shimbun reported that police are still investigating the reasons and circumstances.
- What Toyama Mayor Fujii said about the census. TBS NEWS DIG referred to comments by Mayor Fujii, but the available text is cut off.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- October 6: Nippon TV News reports that prefectural police obtained the original census forms from the ministry and are checking them against the facts. [ 1 ]
- October 6: TBS NEWS DIG reports the police obtained the original forms and carries an expert's criticism in its headline. [ 2 ]
- October 8: Yomiuri Shimbun reports the police seized the original forms and are analysing them, and are questioning people involved. [ 3 ]