US sanctions ICC President Akane Tomoko, Japan calls move 'very unfortunate'

Published Aug 19, 02:40 PM UTC

The United States imposed sanctions on International Criminal Court (ICC) President Akane Tomoko, a Japanese national, on August 18, 2026, as part of a broader Trump administration campaign against the court. Tokyo responded cautiously, with Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae and the Foreign Ministry calling the move 'very unfortunate' but stopping short of demanding withdrawal. The sanctions highlight a fundamental tension in Japanese diplomacy: balancing its strong rhetorical support for the rule of law and the ICC with its security dependence on the United States, its only treaty ally. European leaders and Dutch officials strongly condemned the sanctions, while a cross-party group in Japan urged the government to protest more forcefully. The article notes a pattern of Tokyo avoiding direct confrontation with Washington on international law issues, as seen in its response to U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran.