Political News(2024/11/26)
Kyodo News' President Apologizes to Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Misinformation "Affecting Japan-Korea Relations"
2024-11-26 22:42:00
Following Kyodo News' correction of an article reporting that Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Ikuina visited Yasukuni Shrine in 2022, President Mizutani met with Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Okano and said, "We regret that this has had an impact on Japan-South Korea relations. We apologize to Parliamentary Vice-Minister Ikuina and many other people involved in Japan and South Korea."
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Announcement of proposed operational standards for the system limiting the number of people who handle "important economic and security information"
2024-11-26 22:39:00
The government has published a draft of operational standards for the "security clearance" system, which will limit access to information important to economic security to people whose trustworthiness has been confirmed by the government. The standards state that, in order to confirm trustworthiness, the government will investigate individuals' criminal records and whether they have had any problems with alcohol, with their consent.
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Former Prime Minister Kishida urges Prime Minister Ishiba to realize "asset management nation"
2024-11-26 21:37:00
Former Prime Minister Kishida made recommendations to Prime Minister Ishihara, including expanding the individual-type defined contribution pension plan, or iDeCo, in order to realize the "asset management-based nation" that his administration set out to achieve.
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Hyogo Governor Saito reveals details of payments to PR companies supporting him in the gubernatorial election
2024-11-26 21:24:00
On the 26th, a lawyer representing Governor Saito revealed the details of the approximately 700,000 yen paid by the representative of a PR company that supported Governor Saito in the Hyogo Prefectural gubernatorial election to the PR company, which has been accused of violating the Public Offices Election Act over the content of an article posted on the company's website about the campaign's social media operations. The governor's side has denied any illegality.
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Hyogo Governor Saito reveals details of payments to PR companies supporting him in the gubernatorial election
2024-11-26 20:10:00
Regarding the content of an article posted on a website by the representative of a PR company that supported Governor Saito in the Hyogo Prefectural Gubernatorial Election regarding the social media usage of the campaign, which has been criticized for violating the Public Offices Election Act, Governor Saito's lawyer revealed today the breakdown of the approximately 700,000 yen paid by Governor Saito's side to the PR company. The Governor's side has denied any illegality.
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"Increasing wages and incomes for all generations" is the top priority for next year's budget
2024-11-26 19:52:00
In preparation for the budget formulation for next year (2025), the government presented a basic policy proposal at the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy, which places the highest priority on increasing wages and incomes for all generations. Prime Minister Ishiba has instructed the government to work with the ruling party to put together a policy.
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Hyogo Governor Saito meets with mayors of the prefecture to "Work with cities and towns to stabilize prefectural government"
2024-11-26 19:36:00
Hyogo Prefecture Governor Saito attended the first meeting with mayors of the prefecture since the recent gubernatorial election. In response to a call from a mayor who supported the opposing candidate in the election for efforts to stabilize the prefecture's administration, Governor Saito conveyed his intention to work more closely with cities and towns than ever before.
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Prime Minister Ishiba adjusts his policy speech to announce plans to raise the 1.03 million yen annual income threshold
2024-11-26 19:32:00
Prime Minister Ishiba is preparing to announce an increase in the "1.03 million yen annual income barrier" in his policy speech on the 29th. As a minority ruling party, he is expected to emphasize his intention to carefully listen to the opinions of other parties and seek to reach as broad a consensus as possible in the future.
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South Korea expresses regret over Japan's attitude toward Sado Island gold mine memorial ceremony
2024-11-26 19:28:00
Regarding the memorial ceremony for workers at the Sado Island Gold Mine in Niigata Prefecture held on the 24th, the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it had conveyed regret over the poor attitude of the Japanese side during discussions regarding the memorial ceremony.
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Political reform: First meeting of ruling and opposition parties to discuss policy activities, etc. Seven parties call for abolishment
2024-11-26 19:27:00
The first meeting of the seven ruling and opposition parties on political reform was held. Each party presented their position on issues such as the abolition of policy activity expenses and the ban on corporate and organizational donations.
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LDP Tax Commission Chairman Miyazawa: "The LDP and Komeito will hold tax system discussions on the 28th and present their basic ideas"
2024-11-26 19:14:00
Regarding tax reforms for next year, LDP Research Commission Chairman Miyazawa has revealed that he will hold another tax consultation with the LDP, Komeito, and the Democratic Party for the People on the 28th, and will present his basic thinking on the items advocated by the Democratic Party for the People, including a review of the "1.03 million yen annual income barrier."
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Ruling and opposition parties to set up council on 27th to discuss old correspondence expenses
2024-11-26 18:58:00
Regarding the former correspondence expenses and the current "research, study and public relations accommodation expenses," the House of Councillors' Committee on Rules and Administration has confirmed that it will set up a council of ruling and opposition parties on the 27th to hold concrete discussions on the disclosure of their uses, etc.
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Political reform: First meeting of ruling and opposition parties to discuss policy activities, etc. Seven parties call for abolishment
2024-11-26 18:49:00
The first meeting of the seven ruling and opposition parties on political reform was held. Each party presented their position on issues such as the abolition of policy activity expenses and the ban on corporate and organizational donations.
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Fukushima Governor requests Minister of Reconstruction to "Present policy after second reconstruction period as soon as possible"
2024-11-26 18:45:00
Fukushima Governor Uchibori met with Minister of Reconstruction Ito and, in light of the fact that the "Second Reconstruction and Revitalization Period," which focuses on reconstruction, will end next fiscal year, he called on the government to quickly outline its basic policy for the period following the end of the period and to secure sufficient financial resources.
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Child and Family Agency launches project team to tackle worsening bullying issue
2024-11-26 18:26:00
In response to the worsening problem of bullying and absenteeism at school, the Agency for Children and Families has launched a project team within the agency. Minister of State for Child Policy Mihara has instructed the team to consider measures to ensure that children can feel free to confide their concerns.
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Political reform: First meeting of ruling and opposition parties to discuss policy activities, etc. Seven parties call for abolishment
2024-11-26 17:59:00
The first meeting of the seven ruling and opposition parties on political reform was held. Each party presented their position on issues such as the abolition of policy activity expenses and the ban on corporate and organizational donations.
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Prime Minister Ishiba: "We need cooperation to raise wages substantially in next year's spring labor offensive" at government-labor-management meeting
2024-11-26 15:29:00
At a government-labor-management meeting held by the government, the business community, and the labor community, Prime Minister Ishiba called for cooperation to ensure a significant wage increase in next year's spring labor offensive. He also instructed the relevant cabinet ministers to put together measures by next spring to achieve the goal of raising the minimum wage.
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People's Party Representative Tamaki: "The 1.03 million yen annual income barrier will not cause trouble for local finances"
2024-11-26 15:16:00
Regarding the source of funds for the review of the "1.03 million yen annual income barrier," Democratic Party for the People leader Tamaki stated, "We have no intention of causing trouble for local finances," and indicated his understanding that discussions on specific measures will be held with the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito.
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Prime Minister Ishiba: "We need cooperation to raise wages substantially in next year's spring labor offensive" at government-labor-management meeting
2024-11-26 15:03:00
At a government-labor-management meeting held by the government, the business community, and the labor community, Prime Minister Ishiba called for cooperation to ensure a significant wage increase in next year's spring labor offensive. He also instructed the relevant cabinet ministers to put together measures by next spring to achieve the goal of raising the minimum wage.
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Political reform: First meeting of ruling and opposition parties begins; abolishing policy activity expenses is a major topic of discussion
2024-11-26 15:00:00
The first meeting of seven ruling and opposition parties is currently underway to discuss political reform, with opinions being exchanged on issues such as the abolition of policy activity expenses and the ban on corporate and organizational donations.
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LDP: "No member of the House of Councillors committee on political ethics has requested to attend"
2024-11-26 13:29:00
The Liberal Democratic Party and Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan's House of Councillors Diet Affairs Committee chairmen met, and the Liberal Democratic Party said that so far, no lawmakers who have not been included in their political funding and expenditure reports and who are required to appear before the House of Councillors Political Ethics Review Committee have requested to attend.
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Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi corrects Kyodo News article: "We are extremely sorry and request an explanation"
2024-11-26 13:18:00
Regarding Kyodo News' correction of an article stating that Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Ikuina had visited Yasukuni Shrine two years ago, which stated that the report was incorrect, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi stated that it was extremely regrettable that this had caused confusion and expressed his intention to request an explanation of the facts and circumstances.
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Prime Minister Ishiba's Activities November 25, 2024
2024-11-26 09:28:00
(Prime Minister Ishiba's activities November 25, 2024) 08:14 Departs from the House of Representatives members' accommodation in Akasaka, Tokyo 08:17 Arrives at the Prime Minister's Office 10:12 Interview with the Agricultural Cooperative Newspaper (until 10:47) 11:25 Meets with Akiba Takeo, Director-General of the National Security Secretariat, Iida Yoichi, Deputy Director-General of the Cabinet Secretariat's Cyber Security Center, and Yamato Taro, Director-General of the Defense Policy Bureau of the Ministry of Defense (until 11:40) 11:45 Receives a request letter from Toyama Governor Nitta Hachiro, representative of the Japan Sea Coastal Zone Development Association and others. Also in attendance were Hayashi Yoshimasa, Tachibana Keiichiro, Aoki Kazuhiko, and Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Sato Fumitoshi (until 11:55) 12:11 Government and Ruling Party Liaison Meeting (until 12:36) 12:39 Meeting with LDP Secretary-General Moriyama Yutaka (until 12:48) 14:19 Meeting with Defense Minister Gen Nakatani, Defense Ministry Administrative Vice-Minister Masuda Kazuo, Director-General of the Defense Policy Bureau Yamato, and Director-General of the Personnel and Education Bureau Aoki Kenji (until 14:39) 14:40 Meeting with Defense Ministry Administrative Vice-Minister Masuda, Director-General of the Defense Policy Bureau Yamato, and Director-General of the Personnel and Education Bureau Aoki (until 15:00) 15:01 Meeting with Finance Minister Kato Katsunobu, Finance Ministry Administrative Vice-Minister Shinkawa Hirotsugu, and Director-General of the Budget Bureau Unami Hirotaka (until 15:18) 15:30 Meeting with Environment Minister Keiichiro Asao, Vice-Minister for Global Issues Kazuhiko Nakamura, Vice-Minister for Global Issues of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Takatsugu Tatsuzaki, Vice-Minister for the Promotion of the Transition to a Low-Carbon Economic Structure of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Takashi Matsuzawa, Vice-Minister for Global Environment of the Ministry of the Environment (until 15:50)15:55 Meeting with Minister in charge of Economic Revitalization Akimasa Akazawa, Deputy Secretary-General of the Cabinet Secretariat Headquarters for the Realization of New Capitalism Yasuyuki Kasai, and Director-General of the Economic and Industrial Policy Bureau of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Toshimitsu Fujiki (until 16:19)16:30 Meeting with Minister in charge of Economic Revitalization Akazawa, Administrative Vice-Minister of the Cabinet Office Hiroyuki Inoue, Vice-Minister for Policy Affairs Yukihiro Hayashi, and Deputy Director-Generals for Policy Affairs Satoshi Kimura and Yutaka Nomura (until 16:56)18:01 National Prefectural Governors' Meeting (until 18:47)20:22 Departure from the Prime Minister's Office20:28 Arrival at the Diet Members' Accommodation
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G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting Opens: Agreement to work together to improve humanitarian situation in the Middle East
2024-11-26 06:52:00
The G7 foreign ministers' meeting opened in Italy on the evening of the 25th (Japan time). In discussions on the situation in the Middle East, the G7 foreign ministers agreed to work together to improve the humanitarian situation.
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"1.03 million yen barrier" - LDP and Komeito consider raising deduction amount and including high-income earners
2024-11-26 05:16:00
The Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito have begun discussions on tax reform for fiscal 2025. In order to prevent a decrease in local tax revenues due to the revision of the "1.03 million yen annual income barrier," the parties are expected to consider the extent to which deduction amounts should be increased and whether high-income earners should be included in the scope of deductions.
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Kyodo News issues correction and apology for erroneous report that "Mr. Ikuina visited Yasukuni Shrine"
2024-11-26 00:02:00
Kyodo News has corrected an article distributed domestically and internationally that stated that Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Ikuina visited Yasukuni Shrine in August 2022, stating that "Mr. Ikuina did not visit the shrine and the report was incorrect."
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