Political News(2024/07/19)
Government holds first meeting of new working group to consider marriage support measures
2024-07-19 22:14:00
As part of measures to combat the declining birthrate, the government held its first meeting of a new working group to consider marriage support measures that meet the needs of the younger generation. The group is expected to compile an interim report by the end of August, with a view to including specific measures in the budget request for next fiscal year.
TOP
Former Prime Minister Noda and House of Representatives member Ichiro Ozawa exchange views on the party leadership election
2024-07-19 22:00:00
Former Prime Minister Noda and House of Representatives member Ichiro Ozawa of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan met to exchange views on the party's leadership election to be held in September this year, and agreed that a change of government must be achieved in the next House of Representatives election.
TOP
Former director's petition on power harassment allegations against Hyogo governor adopted by 100-article committee
2024-07-19 21:12:00
Regarding a document by a former director accusing Hyogo Prefecture Governor Saito of power harassment, the prefectural assembly's "100-Article Committee" has decided to use as materials for deliberations a written statement and audio recordings believed to have been prepared by the former director before his death.
TOP
Chairman of the Japan Federation of Democratic Party of Japan and the Communist Party of Japan is closing the gap, fearing impact on the whole country
2024-07-19 20:22:00
Regarding the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Communist Party's support for Renho in the recent Tokyo gubernatorial election, Rengo Chairman Yoshino pointed out that this shows the distance between the two parties is narrowing, and expressed concern that this could have a ripple effect across the country.
TOP
Niigata City Joetsu Mayor passes resolution recommending resignation over "high school graduate level" remarks
2024-07-19 20:17:00
A resolution was submitted and passed by a majority vote recommending the resignation of Nakagawa Mikitaka, the mayor of Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture, who apologized last month for his response to a question at a city council meeting regarding the attraction of a new factory.
TOP
Prime Minister Kishida to set up new ministerial council to promote circular economy
2024-07-19 20:16:00
Regarding the circular economy, which promotes the recovery and reuse of resources, Prime Minister Kishida said that this will lead to regional revitalization and economic growth, and announced his intention to establish a new relevant cabinet meeting within this month to accelerate consideration of specific measures.
TOP
Prime Minister Kishida: "All policies to encourage wage increases and all possible measures to combat rising prices"
2024-07-19 20:16:00
Regarding future economic policies, Prime Minister Kishida reiterated his intention to mobilize all possible policies, including efforts to encourage wage increases, in order to overcome deflation and achieve sustainable growth, while also taking all possible measures to combat rising prices.
TOP
Okinawa Prefectural Assembly Members Protest Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Others Over Sexual Assault by U.S. Military Soldier
2024-07-19 18:44:00
Following the recent spate of sexual assaults by U.S. soldiers, a group of Okinawa Prefectural Assembly members met with Vice Minister Tsuge at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 19th to protest the series of incidents, saying they are totally unacceptable, and called for prompt reporting of incidents to the prefecture and relevant municipalities.
TOP
Following Defense Ministry and SDF scandals, LDP and CDP agree to hold House of Representatives recess review
2024-07-19 17:25:00
In response to a series of scandals in the Ministry of Defense and the Self-Defense Forces, the Liberal Democratic Party and the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan have agreed to hold a closed-session review in the House of Representatives, and are proceeding with arrangements to hold the review within this month.
TOP
Cross-party group to hold first meeting on 24th to consider compensation system for former eugenic protection law victims
2024-07-19 17:02:00
Regarding the former Eugenic Protection Law, a bipartisan group of lawmakers will hold the first meeting of a working group on the 24th of next week to consider the specific design of a new compensation system for victims.
TOP
Defense Minister Kihara apologizes for arrest of former MSDF member for fraudulent receipt of allowances
2024-07-19 16:55:00
Defense Minister Kihara apologized for not disclosing until the 18th that a former member of the Maritime Self-Defense Force had been arrested in connection with the fraudulent receipt of diving allowances, which the Ministry of Defense announced last week, for failing to properly communicate the information.
TOP
Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Takemi visits China to exchange views on "responding to an aging society"
2024-07-19 16:04:00
Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Takemi visited China for the first time in one year and three months as a Japanese cabinet minister, and exchanged views with members of Xi Jinping's leadership on how to respond to the aging societies that both countries face.
TOP
Prime Minister Kishida and Komeito leader Yamaguchi discuss direction of revision of election law ahead of LDP presidential election
2024-07-19 15:21:00
In response to issues such as the format of election posters, Prime Minister Kishida and Komeito leader Yamaguchi have agreed that the two parties will decide on the direction of revisions to the Public Offices Election Act before the LDP presidential election, which will be held at the end of September.
TOP
LDP and Komeito confirm plan to revise election law; current law prohibits interference with election poster regulations
2024-07-19 14:58:00
In preparation for the revision of the Public Offices Election Act, the LDP and Komeito Party officials confirmed their intention to establish regulations for election posters to maintain a certain level of dignity. However, they shared the view that legal revision is not necessarily necessary, as current laws are sufficient to deal with acts of disruption during election campaigns.
TOP
Shunichi Mizuoka, the current chairman of the Democratic Party and other House of Councillors groups, has been officially reappointed
2024-07-19 14:50:00
Shunichi Mizuoka, the current chairman of the group made up of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and other parties in the House of Councillors, has been formally reappointed.
TOP
Prime Minister Kishida orders strengthening efforts to attract foreign tourists to regional areas
2024-07-19 14:32:00
As the number of foreign tourists visiting Japan continues to reach an all-time high, Prime Minister Kishida has instructed relevant cabinet ministers to strengthen efforts to attract more tourists to regional areas in order to further increase the number of tourists.
TOP
CDP leader Izumi to exchange views with opposition parties on issues such as cooperation in lower house elections to bring about a change of government
2024-07-19 14:17:00
Constitutional Democratic Party leader Izumi indicated his intention to exchange opinions with opposition party leaders from next week onward about how to cooperate in the next House of Representatives elections in order to bring about a change of government.
TOP
Digital Minister Kono: "I did not directly ask the Bank of Japan to raise interest rates"
2024-07-19 14:13:00
In response to reports that in an interview with American media he had mentioned the need for the Bank of Japan to raise interest rates, Digital Minister Kono explained at a press conference held on the 19th that he "was simply stating the theory that if interest rates rise, the yen will appreciate," and that his remarks were not a direct call for the Bank of Japan to raise interest rates.
TOP
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi: "We are not considering third countries, including China, in joint training with Taiwan"
2024-07-19 13:39:00
Regarding the first joint search and rescue training conducted by the coast guards of Japan and Taiwan, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi explained that it was not conducted with third countries such as China in mind, and expressed Japan's intention to continue deepening cooperation with Taiwan.
TOP
Prime Minister: "Continuing expenditure reforms to improve income and productivity" as next year's budget proposal is compiled
2024-07-19 13:20:00
Regarding next year's budget proposal, Prime Minister Kishida expressed his intention to create a well-balanced budget that will lead to increased income and productivity while continuing expenditure reforms.
TOP
Following Defense Ministry and SDF scandals, LDP and CDP agree to hold House of Representatives recess review
2024-07-19 12:58:00
In response to a series of scandals in the Ministry of Defense and the Self-Defense Forces, the Liberal Democratic Party and the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan have agreed to hold a closed-session review in the House of Representatives, and are proceeding with arrangements to hold the review within this month.
TOP
Defense Minister Kihara apologizes for arrest of former MSDF member for fraudulent receipt of allowances
2024-07-19 12:27:00
Defense Minister Kihara apologized for not disclosing until the 18th the fact that the Ministry of Defense had announced last week that a former member of the Maritime Self-Defense Force had been arrested in connection with the fraudulent receipt of diving allowances, saying that he had not communicated this information appropriately.
TOP
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology White Paper Promotes Consideration of Desirable Support Measures in the Event of Large-Scale Disasters
2024-07-19 11:33:00
This year's "White Paper on Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology" has been compiled, and in light of the experience of providing learning support to children who evacuated following the Noto Peninsula earthquake, the government will continue to consider desirable support measures in the event of future large-scale disasters.
TOP
Foreign Minister Kamikawa supports Bosnia-Herzegovina's EU membership
2024-07-19 10:50:00
Foreign Minister Kamikawa visited Bosnia and Herzegovina in southeastern Europe and met with Foreign Minister Konakovic, conveying his intention to support the country's accession to the EU and confirming that the two countries will work together toward ethnic reconciliation.
TOP
Prime Minister Kishida's Activities July 18, 2024
2024-07-19 10:32:00
Prime Minister Kishida's activities July 18, 2024 08:40 Departure from the Official Residence 08:49 Arrival at Tokyo Prince Hotel in Shiba Park, Tokyo 09:11 Opening session of the 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting held in the Phoenix Room banquet hall. Speech (until 9:19) 9:22 First Session of the Summit (until 10:11) 10:12 Second Session of the Summit (until 11:02) 11:05 Courtesy call with Australian Foreign Minister Wong (until 11:16) 11:17 Courtesy call with New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Peters (until 11:22) 11:24 Third Session of the Summit (until 12:11) 12:16 Commemorative photograph with leaders of each country (until 12:17) 12:22 Working Lunch (until 13:29) 13:33 Closing Session (until 13:38) 13:55 Joint press conference with Cook Islands Prime Minister Browne (until 14:12) 14:15 Depart from the same location 14:22 Arrive at the Prime Minister's Office 15:35 Courtesy call with French Polynesia Chief Executive Brotherson (until 15:54) 16:07 Summit meeting with President Simina of the Federated States of Micronesia (until 16:24)16:36 Summit meeting with President Adeane of Nauru (until 16:53)17:40 Meeting with Vice-Minister Okano Masataka, Deputy Director-General for International Cultural Exchange Kanai Masaaki, and Director-General for Asian and Oceanian Affairs Namazu Hiroyuki of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (until 17:54)18:17 Interviews with various media outlets18:18 Departure from the Prime Minister's Official Residence18:31 Arrival at Shin-Marunouchi Building in Marunouchi, Tokyo. Dinner with former Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Nagaoka Keiko, Senators Inoguchi Kuniko and Ota Fusae at the business support facility "EGG"19:06 Departure from the same place19:14 Arrival at the Prime Minister's Official Residence
TOP
CDP leadership election to be held in late September in light of LDP presidential election
2024-07-19 06:09:00
Regarding the Constitutional Democratic Party's leadership election, the party's executive is making arrangements to hold the election in late September, close to the LDP presidential election, in order to highlight policy discussions in opposition to the LDP, which will be held by the end of September.
TOP
New system to be introduced to shorten immigration procedures for foreign tourists
2024-07-19 05:28:00
In an effort to further expand inbound demand, the government plans to introduce a new system to shorten the time it takes for foreign tourists to go through immigration procedures. The system is scheduled to be implemented from January next year, first for tourists from Taiwan.
TOP