2024-11-25 23:48:00
Regarding the new Basic Energy Plan that the government is aiming to compile, the Democratic Party for the People is making arrangements to soon request Prime Minister Ishiba to reflect the promotion of renewable energy and the construction of new nuclear power plants in the plan.
2024-11-25 22:07:00
Foreign Minister Iwaki, who is visiting Italy to attend the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting, met with British Foreign Secretary Lammy prior to the meeting and agreed to hold the first meeting of the so-called "economic version of 2+2," a framework for economic consultation between foreign and economic ministers, in Tokyo early next year.
2024-11-25 21:33:00
In order to strengthen cooperation in the security field, Japan and Italy have signed the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA), which allows the Self-Defense Forces and the Italian military to mutually provide food, fuel, and other items.
2024-11-25 20:30:00
The first round of talks between the ruling and opposition parties on political reform will be held on the 26th. The talks will be held in public with the participation of seven ruling and opposition parties, and one of the points of discussion is expected to be the ban on corporate and group donations, on which the LDP is cautious.
2024-11-25 20:07:00
At a government-sponsored national governors' conference, concerns were expressed that the review of the "1.03 million yen annual income barrier" would result in a decrease in tax revenues for local governments. In response, Prime Minister Ishiba stated his intention to secure the total amount of general financial resources necessary to ensure that local governments can provide administrative services in a stable manner.
2024-11-25 20:01:00
In order to raise the basic pension in the future, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has put together a proposal to shorten the period during which the benefit level will be kept lower than the rate of increase in prices and wages. The necessary financial resources will be covered by contributions from the relatively stable Employees' Pension Insurance finances and additional national treasury contributions.
2024-11-25 19:50:00
Liberal Democratic Party Vice President Suga, who also serves as chairman of the Japan-Korea Parliamentary Friendship League, met with the chairman of the Korean parliamentary friendship group, who is currently visiting Japan, and agreed to cooperate toward the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations next year. It also agreed that Suga and other senior members of the Japanese parliamentary friendship group will visit South Korea as early as mid-next month.
2024-11-25 19:37:00
On the 25th, the Hyogo Prefectural Assembly's 100-article committee, which is investigating the facts surrounding the allegations against Governor Saito of Hyogo Prefecture over power harassment, questioned prefectural officials and others as witnesses. One of them testified about suspicions regarding the fundraising and subsidies provided by financial institutions for the Hanshin-Orix victory parade.
2024-11-25 19:19:00
It has been pointed out that the head of a PR company in Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture, posted an article on a website stating that he had "drafted an operational strategy" regarding the social media management of Governor Saito's campaign, which may be in violation of the Public Offices Election Act, which prohibits the payment of remuneration for election campaigns. In response, Governor Saito stated today that he paid the PR company about 700,000 yen for expenses such as poster production, which are permitted by law, and said, "The management of social media was mainly carried out by the Saito office and others," denying any illegality.
2024-11-25 18:40:00
It has been pointed out that the head of a PR company in Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture, posted an article on a website stating that he had "drafted an operational strategy" regarding the social media management of Governor Saito's campaign, which may be in violation of the Public Offices Election Act, which prohibits the payment of remuneration for election campaigns. In response, Governor Saito stated today that he paid the PR company about 700,000 yen for expenses such as poster production, which are permitted by law, and said, "The management of social media was mainly carried out by the Saito office and others," denying any illegality.
2024-11-25 18:11:00
Mayor Jun Oizumi of Hakodate City, Hokkaido, revealed that the former deputy mayor and others had sold tickets to his political fundraising party to city hall employees, and said, "It was inappropriate if it created an atmosphere where people had to buy tickets."
2024-11-25 18:06:00
During his visit to the United States, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister Nagashima met with dignitaries close to President-elect Trump and revealed that he requested that the next administration continue the efforts to promote multilateral cooperation, including with like-minded countries.
2024-11-25 17:58:00
It has been pointed out that the head of a PR company in Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture, posted an article on a website stating that he had "drafted an operational strategy" regarding the social media management of Governor Saito's campaign, which may be in violation of the Public Offices Election Act, which prohibits the payment of remuneration for election campaigns. In response, Governor Saito stated today that he paid the PR company about 700,000 yen for expenses such as poster production, which are permitted by law, and said, "The management of social media was mainly carried out by the Saito office and others," denying any illegality.
2024-11-25 17:31:00
Regarding the former correspondence expenses and the current "research, public relations, and living expenses" system, former House of Councillors President Santo expressed the view that while the broad direction, such as the disclosure of how the funds will be used, should be determined through an early amendment to the law, detailed rules, such as the specific methods of disclosure, should be carefully developed over time before the law comes into effect.
2024-11-25 17:22:00
Discussions are underway for next year's tax reform. In addition to discussing the review of the "1.03 million yen annual income barrier," a wide range of discussions are expected to take place, including on systems familiar to everyday life such as mortgage tax breaks and gasoline tax breaks. We have summarized the focus of this tax reform.
2024-11-25 17:19:00
The Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito held a general meeting of their Tax System Research Committee and began full-scale discussions on tax reform next year. The focus will be on the amount of tax deductions to be increased and how to secure financial resources in line with the review of the "1.03 million yen annual income barrier" agreed upon with the Democratic Party for the People.
2024-11-25 16:53:00
The National Governors' Conference was held in Tokyo, and the governors in attendance expressed concern that the review of the "1.03 million yen annual income barrier" would result in a decrease in tax revenues for local governments, with many expressing the opinion that the national government should take responsibility for compensating for the reduced revenues with permanent financial resources.
2024-11-25 16:12:00
Regarding the review of the "1.03 million yen annual income barrier" and consideration of gasoline tax cuts, Toyama Prefecture Governor Nitta and others called on Prime Minister Ishiba to take full consideration of the impact on local finances of reduced tax revenues.
2024-11-25 15:43:00
Regarding the defeat of the party's recommended candidate in the Nagoya mayoral election held on the 24th, Komeito leader Saito said, "It was a truly complete defeat, and it has also caused distrust in established political parties," and indicated that the party would also analyze the impact that social media had on the election results.
2024-11-25 15:38:00
At the first government-ruling party liaison meeting since the Ishiba administration was formed, Prime Minister Ishiba emphasized his intention to continue efforts to restore trust, including expediting discussions with each party with the aim of revising the Political Funds Control Act by the end of the year.
2024-11-25 10:17:00
(Prime Minister Ishiba's Activities, November 24, 2024) 17:26 Departs from the House of Representatives accommodation in Akasaka, Tokyo. 17:36 Arrives at the Akasaka Imperial Estate in the former Akasaka area of Tokyo. Attends the wake for the late Princess Mikasa Yuriko at the Mikasanomiya Residence. 18:26 Departs from the same residence. 18:34 Arrives at the Mikasanomiya Residence. (Prime Minister Ishiba's Activities, November 23, 2024) 09:27 Departs from the House of Representatives accommodation in Akasaka, Tokyo. 09:30 Arrives at the Official Residence. 11:02 Finance Minister Kato Katsunobu, Vice-Minister of Finance Shinkawa Hirotsugu, and Director-General of the Budget Bureau Unami Hirotaka enter. 12:09 Finance Vice-Minister Shinkawa and Director-General of the Budget Bureau Unami leave. Finance Minister Kato remains at 12:10. Finance Minister Kato leaves at 12:13. Leaves the official residence at 12:19. Arrives at the Diet member's accommodation at 13:31. Leaves the Diet member's accommodation at 13:37. Arrives at the Sabo Kaikan Annex in Hirakawa-cho, Tokyo at 13:40. Met with Sakie Yokota, a family member of a North Korean abduction victim, and others in the Tateyama Conference Room. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, in charge of the abduction issue, also in attendance (until 13:50). Attended a national rally on the abduction issue in the Tone Conference Room. Speech (until 14:52). Leaves the same place at 14:53. Arrives at the Diet member's accommodation at 17:22. Leaves the Diet member's accommodation at 17:31. Arrives at the Imperial Palace. Attended the Niiname-sai ceremony at Shinkaden. Left Imperial Palace at 19:58. Arrived at the House of Representatives accommodation at 20:04. (Prime Minister Ishiba's Activities November 22, 2024) Left the House of Representatives accommodation in Akasaka, Tokyo at 08:49. Arrived at the Prime Minister's Office at 09:02. Government and ruling party policy meeting (until 09:09). Met with Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, Vice-Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Takeshi Watanabe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Toshihiko Nagai, Deputy Director-General for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Yasushi Yamaguchi, and Director-General of the Agriculture and Forestry Bureau Hironori Matsuo (until 09:54). 10:02. Cabinet meeting (until 10:16). Left the Prime Minister's Office at 10:34. Arrived at the Imperial Palace at 10:44. Signed the return register at 10:51. Left Imperial Palace at 11:03. Arrived at the Akasaka Imperial Estate in Motoakasaka, Tokyo. Signing of condolence book for the late Princess Yuriko of Mikasa at the Mikasanomiya Residence11:12 Departure from the residence11:17 Arrival at the Prime Minister's Residence11:50 Meets with Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi, who is in charge of the abduction issue, and Secretary-General of the Cabinet Secretariat's Abduction Issue Headquarters, Fukumoto Shigenobu (until 12:15)16:38 Meets with Director-General of the National Security Council, Akiba Takeo, and Director-General of Cabinet Intelligence, Hara Kazuya (until 16:47)16:48 Meets with Director-General of Cabinet Intelligence, Hara Kazuya (until 16:53)17:01 Extraordinary Cabinet meeting (until 17:10)17:24 Meets with Minister for Foreign Affairs, Iwaya Takeshi (until 17:45)18:20 Interviews with media companies (until 18:26)19:36 Departure from the Prime Minister's Residence19:40 Arrival at the Diet members' accommodation
2024-11-25 05:39:00
The Kagoshima mayoral election was held on the 24th, and independent incumbent Takao Shimotsuru (44) was elected for the second time.
2024-11-25 05:13:00
The Nagoya mayoral election was held yesterday, and Ichiro Hirosawa (60), who was recommended by the Japanese Conservative Party and others, was elected for the first time.
2024-11-25 05:10:00
The Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito will begin full-scale discussions on tax reform next fiscal year on the 25th. The focus will be on the extent to which deductions will be increased and how to secure financial resources in line with the revision of the "1.03 million yen annual income barrier" agreed upon with the Democratic Party for the People.
