Political News(2024/12/10)
Defense Minister Nakatani meets with U.S. Secretary of Defense, closely monitors South Korea situation, confirms strengthening cooperation
2024-12-10 23:59:00
Defense Minister Nakatani met with U.S. Secretary of Defense Austin, who is visiting Japan, and confirmed his intention to continue strengthening cooperation between the three countries of Japan, the United States, and South Korea while closely monitoring the situation in South Korea, saying that cooperation between the three countries is essential for peace and stability in the region.
TOP
Prime Minister Ishiba meets with Finnish Prime Minister to start negotiations on technology transfer, etc.
2024-12-10 23:37:00
Prime Minister Ishiba met with Finnish Prime Minister Olpo, who is visiting Japan, and the two leaders agreed to begin negotiations regarding the export of defense equipment and technology transfer.
TOP
Prime Minister Ishiba and US Secretary of Defense agree to improve command and control of the Self-Defense Forces and US military
2024-12-10 21:58:00
Prime Minister Ishiba met with U.S. Secretary of Defense Austin, and, bearing in mind the increasingly severe security environment in the region, the two leaders agreed to continue working together under the Japan-U.S. alliance to improve command and control between the Self-Defense Forces and the U.S. military, as well as to promote technical cooperation on defense equipment.
TOP
Japan Confederation of A-bomb Victims Organizations Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize - How Did the Japanese Government React?
2024-12-10 21:12:00
This is the Japanese government's response to the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations' Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony.
TOP
Senior government officials from Japan, the US and the Philippines discuss "cooperating on maritime security with China in mind"
2024-12-10 20:28:00
Senior government officials from Japan, the United States, and the Philippines held talks on maritime security, reaffirming their opposition to unilateral attempts to change the status quo, with China in mind, and agreeing to continue to deepen cooperation.
TOP
Minister Iwatake to meet with Caribbean Community foreign ministers to discuss environment, other issues
2024-12-10 20:11:00
On December 14, Foreign Minister Iwao held a meeting with foreign ministers from 14 Caribbean countries, where he expressed his desire to hold discussions on new areas of cooperation for Japan to address challenges facing Caribbean countries, such as the environment and climate change.
TOP
With the elimination of the "1.06 million yen barrier," 2 million people are expected to join the Employees' Pension Insurance
2024-12-10 19:34:00
Regarding the wage requirement for joining the Employees' Pension Insurance, known as the "1.06 million yen annual income barrier," the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare presented a proposal to abolish it at a subcommittee of the council on the 10th, which was approved, stating that the need for it has diminished following the increase in the minimum wage.
TOP
Prime Minister Ishiba: "Ban on corporate and group donations violates the Constitution's guarantee of freedom of expression"
2024-12-10 19:06:00
The House of Representatives Budget Committee has begun substantive deliberations on this year's supplementary budget. With regard to political reform, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan has repeatedly called for a ban on corporate and group donations. Prime Minister Ishiba, however, stated that companies also have the freedom to express their political will, and expressed his view that banning donations would violate the Constitution, which guarantees "freedom of expression."
TOP
Japan and the U.S. hold working-level discussions on "extended deterrence" to protect Japan with U.S. nuclear forces
2024-12-10 18:17:00
Working-level discussions between the Japanese and U.S. governments began on the 10th regarding "extended deterrence" to protect Japan using America's nuclear forces, etc., and it is believed that views are being exchanged on measures to strengthen deterrence, taking into account the regional security environment.
TOP
Tokyo Governor Koike aims to make childcare free for first-borns starting in September next year
2024-12-10 17:34:00
In a question and answer session at the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike indicated her intention to aim to start making childcare fees free for first-borns, one of her campaign pledges during the gubernatorial election, from September next year.
TOP
The ruling and opposition parties agree to discuss political reforms in the House of Representatives Special Committee on the bill to be deliberated on the 12th
2024-12-10 17:24:00
A special committee of the House of Representatives that discusses political reform met and the ruling and opposition parties agreed to begin deliberations on bills submitted by each party at the committee meeting on the 12th. In addition, with the end of the current Diet session approaching on the 21st of this month, the ruling party proposed to hold deliberations on the bills on the 13th of this week, and possibly on weekends, and it was decided that further discussions would take place.
TOP
2 million new members expected to join Employees' Pension Insurance as "1.06 million yen barrier" is lifted
2024-12-10 17:20:00
Regarding the wage requirement for joining the Employees' Pension Insurance, known as the "1.06 million yen annual income barrier," the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare presented a proposal to abolish it at a subcommittee of the council on the 10th, which was approved, stating that the need for it has diminished following the increase in the minimum wage.
TOP
LDP lawmakers to exchange views on the impact and challenges of using social media in elections
2024-12-10 17:06:00
Regarding the use of social media in elections, the Liberal Democratic Party will hold an online meeting for its Diet members next week to exchange opinions on the impact and challenges of doing so.
TOP
LDP requests Prime Minister Ishiba to raise teacher salaries by more than 10% without conditions
2024-12-10 16:04:00
Regarding the handling of the additional salary increase for teachers, the Liberal Democratic Party has requested Prime Minister Ishiba to ensure that an increase to at least 10% is implemented from next fiscal year, without attaching conditions such as a reduction in overtime work.
TOP
Proposal to abolish the "1.06 million yen barrier": 2 million new members expected to join Employees' Pension Insurance
2024-12-10 15:44:00
Regarding the wage requirement for joining the Employees' Pension Insurance, known as the "1.06 million yen annual income barrier," the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare presented a proposal to a subcommittee of the council on the 10th to abolish it, stating that the need for it has diminished following the increase in the minimum wage.
TOP
House of Representatives Special Committee: Each party expresses its position on the re-revision of the Political Funds Control Law
2024-12-10 15:43:00
Discussions in a special committee of the House of Representatives began on the 10th regarding the further revision of the Political Funds Control Law. Each party expressed its views on issues such as how to abolish policy activity expenses and how to handle corporate and organizational donations.
TOP
The CDP and SDP jointly submit bills to strengthen political funding penalties and establish a third-party organization
2024-12-10 13:59:00
Regarding political reform, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, together with the Social Democratic Party, has submitted a bill to the House of Representatives that includes measures such as strengthening penalties for lawmakers who fail to report political funds, as well as establishing a third-party organization to check political funds.
TOP
"Optional separate surnames for married couples: Providing concrete examples of inconveniences to boost discussion" - Mihara Children's Affairs Minister
2024-12-10 13:31:00
Regarding the option of separate surnames for married couples, Minister of State for Children's Policy Mihara expressed her intention to support national discussion by taking measures such as expanding the use of maiden surnames as common names, as well as by providing concrete examples of the inconvenience and difficulty that arise when people are no longer able to use their maiden surnames upon marriage.
TOP
Minister for Children Mihara: Difficult to meet target for securing number of child welfare officers, support for retention
2024-12-10 12:36:00
Regarding child welfare officers, who are responsible for temporary protection of children at child consultation centers, Minister of State for Children's Policy Mihara stated that it will be difficult to achieve the target of securing 6,850 by the end of this fiscal year, and expressed his intention to provide support to ensure the securing and retention of such personnel.
TOP
The House of Representatives Budget Committee begins deliberations on the supplementary budget bill; Prime Minister: "The size of the budget cannot be determined without consideration"
2024-12-10 12:16:00
The House of Representatives Budget Committee has begun substantive deliberations on the supplementary budget for this fiscal year, which will bring the total amount of the general account to approximately 13.9 trillion yen. Prime Minister Ishiba, in response to criticism from the opposition parties that the budget is based on the size of the budget, said that the budget includes the necessary funds for overcoming deflation and for the restoration and reconstruction of the Noto Peninsula, and that such criticism is unfounded.
TOP
LDP and Komeito confirm policy of reaching agreement with opposition parties on revising Political Funds Control Law, etc.
2024-12-10 11:45:00
Regarding political reform, the secretaries-general of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito met and confirmed their intention to strive to reach an agreement with the opposition parties to revise the Political Funds Control Act again in the current Diet session, in order to achieve things like the abolition of policy activity expenses.
TOP
National government employees to receive average winter bonus of 652,000 yen under bill to receive additional payment
2024-12-10 11:36:00
National government employees were paid their winter bonuses on the 10th, with the average payment being approximately 652,000 yen. If the National Diet passes a salary law to raise the bonus, the bonus will be increased to approximately 722,000 yen, 47,000 yen more than last year.
TOP
Komeito and Kokumin jointly submit bill to set up third-party agency to check political funds
2024-12-10 11:02:00
In order to achieve political reform, the Komeito Party and the Democratic Party for the People have jointly submitted a bill to the House of Representatives to establish a third-party agency in the Diet to check political funds.
TOP
The CDP and SDP jointly submit bills to strengthen political funding penalties and establish a third-party organization
2024-12-10 11:02:00
Regarding political reform, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, together with the Social Democratic Party, has submitted a bill to the House of Representatives that includes measures such as strengthening penalties for lawmakers who fail to report political funds, as well as establishing a third-party organization to check political funds.
TOP
Prime Minister Ishiba's Activities December 9, 2024
2024-12-10 08:33:00
(Prime Minister Ishiba's Activities December 9, 2024)
TOP
Prime Minister Ishiba exchanges views with former Ishiba faction lawmakers on the internal party situation and the state of parliamentary deliberations
2024-12-10 06:13:00
On the evening of the 9th, Prime Minister Ishiba had dinner with lawmakers who were once members of the former Ishiba faction of the Liberal Democratic Party that he once led, and exchanged views on the situation within the party and the state of parliamentary deliberations.
TOP
Prime Minister Ishiba to visit Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant this weekend
2024-12-10 06:02:00
Prime Minister Ishiba is planning to visit Fukushima Prefecture this weekend and inspect the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant for the first time since taking office. He plans to emphasize the government's commitment to recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake and nuclear accident, and to use the visit to strengthen disaster prevention measures, which he considers important.
TOP
Discussions begin today in special committee on the Political Funds Control Law to be revised again
2024-12-10 05:24:00
In the Diet, debate will begin on the 10th toward revising the Political Funds Control Law. Each party is expected to present its position on such issues as how to abolish policy activity expenses and how to handle corporate and group donations, and the focus will be on whether the law will be revised during the current Diet session.
TOP
Over 60% of people "understand" the new system of "My Number Health Insurance Cards"
2024-12-10 05:04:00
Starting this month, the government will stop issuing new health insurance cards and move to a system based on the "My Number Health Insurance Card," which combines a My Number card and an insurance card. When asked in an NHK opinion poll whether people understood the new system, over 60% answered "I understand it," while 30% answered "I don't understand it."
TOP
