Japan's former defense chief, Gen Nakatani, has called on Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to take a stronger stance against recent U.S. sanctions targeting the International Criminal Court (ICC) and its president, Tomoko Akane. Nakatani described the U.S. actions as an "outright attack on the rules-based international order," arguing that Japan should push for the sanctions to be withdrawn. He emphasized that the ICC and its leadership should not face "political coercion and sanctions" without justification. Nakatani, a senior member of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party and a national security expert, stressed that Japan's commitment to the rule of law should not conflict with its close alliance with the United States. He warned that failing to address the issue now could harm Japan's credibility and trust with the U.S. Nakatani is leading a cross-party group of lawmakers focused on human rights and diplomacy. The group plans to submit their demands to the Prime Minister’s office by mid-September, urging stronger support for the ICC and its leadership. Prime Minister Takaichi has faced criticism for not clearly balancing Japan’s support for international legal institutions with its relationship with the Trump administration. While she has called the U.S. sanctions on the ICC "unfortunate," she has not strongly opposed them. Nakatani urged her to take a more vocal stance, expressing continued support for the ICC and its president, Tomoko Akane. The U.S. imposed sanctions on the ICC and several of its staff in response to investigations into Israeli officials in Gaza and U.S. military personnel in Afghanistan. These sanctions restrict access to U.S. financial systems and prevent affected individuals from entering the country. Despite this, Akane has stated that the sanctions have not deterred her or impacted her work. She has called on Japan and other ICC member states to support the court and work to de-escalate tensions with the U.S.