Political News(2024/12/13)
Komeito urges Prime Minister Ishiba to "strive for a balanced power source mix"
2024-12-13 21:52:00
As the government prepares for the formulation of its new Basic Energy Plan, the Komeito Party has made recommendations to Prime Minister Ishiba, including aiming for a balanced energy mix to avoid excessive reliance on any particular energy source.
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Defense Minister Nakatani to jointly develop frigate with Australia "all Japan"
2024-12-13 21:05:00
Following Australia narrowing down its candidates for joint development of a new frigate to Japan and Germany, the first meeting of a joint public-private committee to select the two vessels was held, with Defense Minister Nakatani emphasizing his intention for the project to be an all-Japan effort.
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Prime Minister Ishiba: "Discussions needed to formulate a new basic plan for gender equality"
2024-12-13 20:13:00
At the government's Gender Equality Council, Prime Minister Ishiba instructed that discussions be advanced toward formulating a new basic plan to be implemented from the fiscal year after next. The focus is expected to be on the treatment of optional separate surnames for married couples, which the current plan states will be "further examined."
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The House of Representatives Political Ethics Committee will hold public hearings on 17th to 19th to hear from 15 people, including Koichi Hagiuda
2024-12-13 19:34:00
The House of Representatives Political Ethics Committee held a steering committee meeting to discuss how to deal with LDP lawmakers who were not included in their income and expenditure reports, and decided to hold a public review of 15 people, including Hagiuda Koichi, who had expressed their intention to attend, for three days starting on December 17th.
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Substantial deliberations begin in the House of Councillors Budget Committee on amending the Political Funds Control Law
2024-12-13 19:24:00
The House of Councillors Budget Committee has begun substantive deliberations on this year's supplementary budget. The LDP is planning to introduce a new "disclosure method devised expenditure" in the second revision of the Political Funds Control Law. The opposition parties have pointed out that there is a risk of arbitrary use of the new method. Prime Minister Ishiba, however, has expressed the view that the scope of non-disclosure should be limited as much as possible.
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"1.03 million yen wall" - Public "unacceptable" to LDP/Komeito's 1.23 million yen proposal
2024-12-13 19:16:00
Regarding the review of the "1.03 million yen annual income barrier," the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito presented a proposal in tax consultations with the Democratic Party for the People to raise the income tax deduction from the current 1.03 million yen to 1.23 million yen from next year. In response, the Democratic Party for the People said the proposal was unacceptable and called for a further increase.
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Opposition parties say LDP proposal has loophole; LDP calls for revision talks
2024-12-13 18:40:00
The second day of questioning took place at the House of Representatives Special Committee on Political Reform, where the opposition parties pointed out that the LDP's proposal had "loopholes" in the "disclosure method devised expenditures" and other areas regarding the abolition of policy activity expenses. In response, the LDP expressed its intention to seek common ground through amendment negotiations.
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LDP and Komeito present proposal to raise "1.03 million yen barrier" to 1.23 million yen from next year to citizens
2024-12-13 17:59:00
Regarding the review of the "1.03 million yen annual income barrier," the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito presented a proposal to raise the income tax deduction from the current 1.03 million yen to 1.23 million yen in tax consultations with the Democratic Party for the People. They also proposed that this be implemented from next year.
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"Appropriate legislation required" - Hyogo Prefectural Assembly passes opinion following gubernatorial election
2024-12-13 17:35:00
In response to the Hyogo Prefectural Gubernatorial election and other events, the Hyogo Prefectural Assembly unanimously passed a resolution calling on the national government to immediately examine situations that are not anticipated in the Public Offices Election Act and to appropriately develop laws, citing, among other things, the "spread of slanderous and unconfirmed information on social media."
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Opposition parties say LDP proposal has loophole; LDP calls for revision talks
2024-12-13 17:31:00
The second day of questioning took place at the House of Representatives Special Committee on Political Reform, where the opposition parties pointed out that the LDP's proposal had "loopholes" in the "disclosure method devised expenditures" and other areas regarding the abolition of policy activity expenses. In response, the LDP expressed its intention to seek common ground through amendment negotiations.
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Minister of Reconstruction Ito apologizes for not submitting income and expenditure reports for over 10 years at the branch where he served as representative
2024-12-13 17:27:00
Reconstruction Minister Ito offered an apology at the House of Councillors Budget Committee on the 13th for the fact that the Liberal Democratic Party branch of which he served as representative had not submitted political funding reports for the years 2009 and 2010 for over 10 years.
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Ishin Party leader Yoshimura: "We aim to win more seats than the current 18 in the House of Councillors election next summer"
2024-12-13 17:07:00
Regarding next summer's House of Councillors election, Japan Restoration Party leader Yoshimura has indicated his goal of winning more than the current 18 seats, including seats not up for re-election.
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Opposition parties say LDP proposal has loophole; LDP calls for revision talks
2024-12-13 16:40:00
The second day of questioning took place at the House of Representatives Special Committee on Political Reform, where the opposition parties pointed out that the LDP's proposal had "loopholes" in the "disclosure method devised expenditures" and other areas regarding the abolition of policy activity expenses. In response, the LDP expressed its intention to seek common ground through amendment negotiations.
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Prime Minister Ishiba tells Caribbean foreign ministers to "cooperate on common issues"
2024-12-13 16:39:00
Prime Minister Ishiba met with foreign ministers from 14 Caribbean countries who are visiting Japan to attend an international conference, and conveyed his desire to work together to address common challenges, including climate change and natural disasters.
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Minister of Reconstruction Ito apologizes for not submitting income and expenditure reports for over 10 years at the branch where he served as representative
2024-12-13 15:37:00
Reconstruction Minister Ito offered an apology at the House of Councillors Budget Committee on the 13th for the fact that the Liberal Democratic Party branch of which he served as representative had not submitted political funding reports for the years 2009 and 2010 for over 10 years.
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Proposals to be compiled for the establishment of a "Disaster Prevention Agency" under the Liberal Democratic Party to discuss disaster prevention systems
2024-12-13 15:17:00
The first meeting of a new organization established by the Liberal Democratic Party to discuss the form of disaster prevention system was held, and the organization considered issues such as the role of the Disaster Prevention Agency that the government aims to establish, with the goal of compiling recommendations in the future.
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The House of Representatives Political Ethics Committee will hold public hearings on 17th to 19th to hear from 15 people, including Koichi Hagiuda
2024-12-13 15:14:00
The House of Representatives Political Ethics Committee held a steering committee meeting to discuss how to deal with LDP lawmakers who were not included in their income and expenditure reports, and decided to hold a public review of 15 people, including Hagiuda Koichi, who had expressed their intention to attend, for three days starting on December 17th.
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Tokyo LDP branch corrects income and expenditure report, omitting some details such as party ticket purchasers
2024-12-13 13:51:00
The Tokyo branch of the Liberal Democratic Party corrected its income and expenditure report on the 12th, stating that it had not included some of the purchasers and amounts of political fundraising party tickets in its political fundraising income and expenditure report for the two years from last year and the year before. The total amount not included was over 8.3 million yen, and the Tokyo branch of the Liberal Democratic Party stated that it "did not realize that the purchase amounts by individuals and groups exceeded the 200,000 yen that was required to be included."
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Agency for Children and Families launches special website to publicize new compensation for former eugenic protection law
2024-12-13 13:02:00
Ahead of the start of new compensation next month for victims who were forced to undergo sterilization under the former Eugenic Protection Law, the Child and Family Agency has opened a special website listing the recipients and amounts of compensation. In the future, the agency plans to gradually add information on how to apply and make the website more widely known.
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CDP: "Ban corporate and group donations" Prime Minister: "Discussion on relationship with the Constitution is necessary"
2024-12-13 12:22:00
Substantial deliberations on this year's supplementary budget bill have begun in the House of Councillors Budget Committee. With regard to political reform, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan has repeatedly called for a ban on corporate and group donations. In response, Prime Minister Ishiba expressed the view that if a ban is to be imposed, it is necessary to discuss how it relates to the Constitution, which guarantees "freedom of expression" for corporations to express their political will.
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LDP and Komeito agree to postpone decision on start date of income tax hike to fund defense
2024-12-13 12:01:00
Regarding tax increases to secure defense funding, the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito have agreed to postpone the decision on when to start the income tax hike, while the corporate tax and tobacco tax hikes will begin in April 2026.
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Political reform bill to be discussed by ruling and opposition parties in House of Representatives special committee on the 16th
2024-12-13 11:36:00
At a board meeting on the morning of the 13th, the ruling and opposition parties agreed to hold a committee meeting on the afternoon of December 16th of next week to deliberate on the bill. The LDP also stated that they would like to reach a certain conclusion on the 16th, and repeatedly called for a vote on the bill on the 16th, while the opposition parties responded by saying that they would "consider the situation and continue discussions."
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Theft of valuables from Mitsubishi UFJ Bank's safe deposit box: "Very regrettable incident" - Finance Minister Kato
2024-12-13 11:08:00
Regarding the issue of Mitsubishi UFJ Bank's managerial staff stealing money and valuables from a branch's safe deposit box, Finance Minister and Minister of State for Financial Services Katsuyuki Kato stated at a press conference after the Cabinet meeting on the 13th that "this is an extremely regrettable incident," and indicated that the Financial Services Agency will ensure that appropriate investigations are carried out to determine the cause and to prevent recurrence.
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Prime Minister Ishiba's Activities December 12, 2024
2024-12-13 09:24:00
(Prime Minister Ishiba's Activities, December 12, 2024) 06:49 Departs from House of Representatives accommodation in Akasaka, Tokyo 06:52 Arrives at the Prime Minister's Office 07:00 Met with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Tachibana Keiichiro (until 08:05) 08:46 Departs from the Prime Minister's Office 08:47 Arrives at the Diet 08:49 Enters the House of Representatives Committee Room 1 08:57 House of Representatives Budget Committee opens 12:48 House of Representatives Budget Committee adjourns 12:49 Leaves the same room 12:50 Speaks with Minister of State for Economic Revitalization Akazawa Ryomasa 12:51 Departs from the Diet 12:53 Arrives at the Prime Minister's Office 13:01 Receives a resolution from Tomomi Inada, chairperson of the LDP "League of Parliamentarians Promoting the Replacement of State-of-the-Art Nuclear Power Plants to Achieve a Carbon-Free Society and Maintain and Enhance National Strength" (until 13:22) 14:03 Director-General of the National Security Council Akiba Takeo meets with Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Okano Masataka, Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Namazu Hiroyuki, Director-General of the North American Affairs Bureau Arima Yutaka, and Director-General of the Middle East and Africa Bureau Ando Toshihide (until 14:41) 14:43 Director-General of the National Security Council Akiba meets with Director-General of the North American Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Arima, Administrative Vice-Minister of Defense Masuda Kazuo, and Director-General of the Defense Policy Bureau Yamato Taro (until 15:09) 15:15 Director-General of the National Security Council Akiba meets with Director-General of Cabinet Intelligence Hara Kazuya, Director-General of the Foreign Policy Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Kawabe Masahiro, Director-General of the Defense Policy Bureau of the Ministry of Defense Yamato, and Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff Yoshida Yoshihide (until 15:44) 15:45 Meeting with Secretary-General of the Cabinet Secretariat Abduction Issue Headquarters Fukumoto Shigenobu (until 15:55) 16:01 Receives a proposal from Chairperson Kamikawa Yoko and others of the LDP's "League of Diet Members Aiming to Realize a Society Free of Sexual Violence" (until 16:14) 16:21 Departed from the Prime Minister's Office at 16:22. Arrived at the Diet at 16:24. Entered the Speaker's reception room at 16:30. Left the room at 16:32. Entered the House of Representatives plenary session at 16:32. The House of Representatives plenary session opened at 17:47. Left the House of Representatives plenary session at 17:49. Visited and greeted the House of Representatives' Fukushiro Nukaga, Speaker and Vice-Speaker Koichiro Gemba, House Management Committee Chairman Yasukazu Hamada, the Liberal Democratic Party, and the Komeito Party. Accompanied by Finance Minister Kato Katsunobu, Hayashi Yoshimasa, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Tachibana Tadashi, LDP Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Sakamoto Satoshi, and Komeito Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Sato Hidemichi (until 18:01) 18:02 Enters the Diet Minister's office 18:08 Leaves the office 18:10 Leaves the Diet 18:12 Arrives at the Prime Minister's Office 18:13 Interviews with media outlets (until 18:16) 18:23 Receives written recommendation from LDP Environment and Global Warming Countermeasures Research Committee Chairman Inoue Shinji (until 18:34) 18:35 Receives written recommendation from LDP Comprehensive Energy Strategy Research Committee Chairman Kajiyama Hiroshi (until 18:47) 18:48 Meeting with Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yoji Muto, Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yuji Iida, Vice-Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry Takatsugu Tatsuzaki, Director-General for the Promotion of the Transition to a Carbon-Free Economic Structure, and Commissioner Yoshifumi Murase and Deputy Director-General Yojiro Hatakeyama of the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy (until 19:21). Leaves the Prime Minister's Office at 20:20. Arrives at the House of Representatives accommodation in Akasaka, Tokyo at 20:24.
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Prime Minister Ishiba to attend online G7 summit
2024-12-13 02:04:00
Prime Minister Ishiba is scheduled to attend the G7 summit, which will be held online on the evening of the 13th, and hopes to confirm the strengthening of G7 unity, with the inauguration of the Trump administration in the United States in January in mind.
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This year's supplementary budget bill to be debated in the House of Councillors; discussions on political reform also intensify
2024-12-13 01:55:00
The supplementary budget for this fiscal year, which will underpin the economic measures, passed the House of Representatives and will be debated in the House of Councillors from the 13th. Meanwhile, discussions on political reform are also in full swing, and the focus is on whether the various parties can find common ground to achieve legal reform within the current session.
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