In spite of a recent money scandal surrounding key political figures in Japan, it appears that voting behaviour was barely influenced, according to the latest reports. The election process continued as per its usual schedule and the implicated politicians have faced the consequences under Japanese law. However, the expected public backlash at the polling booths was surprisingly absent, suggesting the robustness of Japan's democratic process or the public's indifference toward the scandal.

Japan is a country known for its high levels of public integrity and its low tolerance for corruption. An incident involving political bribery would spark widespread media coverage and public discussions scrutinizing the nature of the scandal and its potential effects on society and politics. Yet, perhaps due to societal expectation of strict law enforcement and general trust in the system, it also seems to quickly fade from public conscience, having limited impacts on voting behaviour.

In contrast, in the US or EU, such a scandal is likely to significantly impact electoral outcomes and the public image of a political party. There is a greater emphasis on politicians' personal integrity, and scandals can lead to dramatic political shifts, not only affecting elections, but also leading to long-term reputational damage.