In a video address to reporters in Tokyo, the President of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Tomoko Akane, called upon Japan, one of the ICC's largest financial contributors, to support the court amid escalating US pressure on its members. The United States intensified its campaign against the Hague-based institution last week by imposing sanctions on Akane and a senior trial lawyer. Washington has also pledged to increase efforts to persuade other countries to withdraw from the ICC, with at least five nations already following suit. Established in 2002 to prosecute war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity, the ICC has faced criticism from the US due to its decision to seek an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a past probe into US troops in Afghanistan. Akane urged Japan, which joined the ICC in 2007 and enjoys close ties with the US, to leverage this relationship to dissuade Washington from taking further escalatory measures. She emphasized that Japan's strong support for the ICC would significantly contribute to its future survival as countries, people, and media view this as a significant test of Japan's commitment to upholding international law. The diplomatic tensions between the US and the ICC continue to unfold, with implications for global justice and the rule of law.