2024-12-19 22:33:00
As the number of children on waiting lists for places at daycare centers and other facilities decreases, the Agency for Children and Families is drawing up a new plan for childcare, aiming to shift policies from one that focuses on increasing capacity to one that emphasizes ensuring the "quality of childcare."
2024-12-19 21:41:00
In order to steadily advance the reconstruction efforts following the Great East Japan Earthquake, the government has begun considering securing financial resources of over 1 trillion yen over the next five years, an amount that exceeds the current amount.
2024-12-19 20:54:00
Takayuki Kobayashi, former Minister of Economic Security and a candidate in the recent LDP presidential election, has launched a policy study group to discuss the nation's vision for the future.
2024-12-19 20:00:00
Regarding the review of the "1.03 million yen annual income barrier," the chairmen of the tax system research committees of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito Party met and confirmed that the tax reform outline for next year, to be decided on the 20th, will clearly state that the income tax deduction amount will be raised to 1.23 million yen. However, in consideration of the Democratic Party for the People, which is calling for a further increase, it was decided to include the phrase "We will continue to hold sincere discussions."
2024-12-19 19:53:00
The secretaries-general of the Liberal Democratic Party and the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan met to discuss the convening of the House of Councillors Political Ethics Review Committee, with the Liberal Democratic Party proposing to continue the review of all lawmakers whose names were not included in the income and expenditure reports after the Diet recess, with the aim of completing the review by the end of the year, and it was decided that further discussions would take place.
2024-12-19 19:33:00
Regarding the issue surrounding the LDP faction's political fundraising party, former Abe faction acting secretary-general Fukuda, who attended the House of Representatives Political Ethics Committee, explained that his secretary had taken the action of not listing the refund in the income and expenditure report under instructions from the faction. The House of Councillors meeting was held on the 18th, and a total of 19 members from the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors gave explanations and held questioning. New statements were made about the process of the refund and the actual operation of the funds, and what was not made clear in the three days is summarized in the latter half of the article.
2024-12-19 19:18:00
Former Deputy Representative of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, Kenji Eda, and others have launched a new study group to consider specific system designs with the aim of eliminating consumption tax on food products.
2024-12-19 19:15:00
Regarding the review of the "1.03 million yen annual income barrier," the chairmen of the tax system research committees of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito Party met and confirmed that the tax reform outline for next year, to be decided on the 20th, will clearly state that the income tax deduction amount will be raised to 1.23 million yen. However, in consideration of the Democratic Party for the People, which is calling for a further increase, it was decided to include the phrase "We will continue to hold sincere discussions."
2024-12-19 18:36:00
Former Prime Minister Kishida of the Liberal Democratic Party and others have established a new parliamentary group to promote a plan to achieve decarbonization in cooperation with Southeast Asian countries and others, and held its first meeting on the 19th.
2024-12-19 18:18:00
At a disaster prevention conference attended by representatives from the business, education, and local governments, Prime Minister Ishiba explained the government's policy of establishing a Disaster Prevention Agency and called for cooperation in raising disaster prevention awareness among all citizens.
2024-12-19 17:55:00
The first meeting of a specialist team focusing on the field of education consisting of the Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito Party and the Japan Restoration Party was held, and the three parties confirmed their intention to discuss specific policy issues, including the Restoration Party's proposal to make education free of charge.
2024-12-19 16:40:00
Regarding the issue surrounding political fundraising parties held by LDP factions, Fukuda, the former acting secretary-general of the Abe faction, who appeared before the House of Representatives Political Ethics Committee, explained that following instructions from the faction, secretaries had taken measures not to include the refunds in the income and expenditure reports.
2024-12-19 16:32:00
Regarding a meeting between Prime Minister Ishiba and the next US President Trump, it has been learned from an interview with a government official that Trump's side has sounded out whether it would be possible to hold the meeting in the US in mid-January. Prime Minister Ishiba is expected to make a decision based on the date of the convening of the regular Diet session, etc.
2024-12-19 16:30:00
It has been learned from an investigation that the former mayor of Niimi City, Okayama Prefecture, who lost the mayoral election last month, and his wife were referred to prosecutors on the 19th on suspicion of violating the Public Offices Election Act for allegedly paying a so-called female announcer more than the legal limit. In an interview with NHK, the former mayor commented, "I feel sorry for the citizens."
2024-12-19 16:29:00
The House of Representatives Constitutional Review Committee held its first discussions under the chairmanship of Constitutional Democratic Party member Edano, who took over after the recent House of Representatives election, and each party expressed their opinions on how to proceed with future discussions.
2024-12-19 16:18:00
Regarding next year's regular Diet session, the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito have agreed to proceed with coordination with the government in order to convene it on January 24. If the session is not extended, the voting day for the House of Councillors election is expected to be July 20, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Offices Election Act.
2024-12-19 15:50:00
Regarding the issue surrounding political fundraising parties held by LDP factions, Fukuda, the former acting secretary-general of the Abe faction, who appeared before the House of Representatives Political Ethics Committee, explained that following instructions from the faction, secretaries had taken measures not to include the refunds in the income and expenditure reports.
2024-12-19 15:12:00
In order to consider fundamental reform of the electoral system, the House of Representatives' Committee on House Management has decided to establish a council under the Speaker, with the participation of all political parties.
2024-12-19 14:55:00
With measures to prevent suicide among children and students becoming an issue, Prime Minister Ishiba met with members of a bipartisan parliamentary group and, in response to a request to set aside sufficient funds in next year's budget proposal, conveyed his intention to take all possible measures to protect children's lives.
2024-12-19 14:41:00
Kumamoto Prefecture Governor Kimura met with Prime Minister Ishiba at the Prime Minister's Official Residence and requested that he support regional revitalization efforts, including through support for the semiconductor industry expanding into the prefecture.
2024-12-19 14:40:00
The House of Representatives Constitutional Review Committee held its first discussions under the chairmanship of Constitutional Democratic Party member Edano, who took over after the recent House of Representatives election, and each party expressed their opinions on how to proceed with future discussions.
2024-12-19 14:17:00
With the one-year anniversary of the Noto Peninsula earthquake approaching next month, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, the Japan Restoration Party, and the Democratic Party for the People have submitted a bill to amend the law to include doubling the maximum amount of support money paid to households whose homes have been completely destroyed from the current 3 million yen to 6 million yen.
2024-12-19 13:28:00
Prime Minister Ishiba held a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Han Deok-soo, who is running the country on behalf of President Yoon Song-ryul in South Korea, and received an explanation on the domestic situation. The two governments confirmed that they would continue to communicate closely.
2024-12-19 12:24:00
South Korean President Yoon has had an impeachment bill passed for the second time. The focus from now will be on whether President Yoon, who has been suspended from his duties, will be removed from office. It all started with the president's declaration of "martial law in peacetime." The behind-the-scenes details of what happened behind the scenes are now coming to light. Was it planned with high school alumni? Is it a reflection of the conflict between conservatives and progressives over North Korea? Commentator Takano Hiroshi, who has covered the Korean Peninsula, gives his unique perspective. *Information as of December 19th. (Video: 10 minutes 17 seconds)
2024-12-19 11:14:00
The ruling and opposition parties agreed on a proposed amendment to the Appropriations Law that would require the former correspondence expenses, now called "research, public relations and residence expenses," to disclose their use annually and return any remaining amounts. The amendment is expected to be passed in the current Diet session, with both the ruling and opposition parties agreeing to put it to a vote in the House of Councillors committee and plenary session on the 20th.
2024-12-19 10:24:00
(Prime Minister Ishiba's Activities December 18, 2024)
2024-12-19 08:23:00
In order to keep gasoline prices down, the government will reduce subsidies it has been providing to oil refiners from the 19th. This will be reflected in retail prices in about two to three weeks, and is expected to lead to a price increase of about 5 yen per liter.
2024-12-19 08:13:00
Foreign Minister Iwasaki is in the final stages of making arrangements to visit Beijing, China next week and meet with Foreign Minister Wang Yi. He hopes to use this visit as an opportunity to invite Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Japan at an early date and to work toward a full-scale improvement of relations and the resolution of outstanding issues.
2024-12-19 05:57:00
Regarding the review of the "1.03 million yen annual income barrier," the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito are moving to raise the income tax deduction amount to 1.23 million yen and include this in the tax reform outline for next year. As they will be in the minority government, they intend to continue discussions with the Democratic Party for the People in the future, with an eye toward cooperation in passing the next fiscal year's budget bill.
