Political News(2024/12/24)
Government proposal allows state to temporarily acquire factories that produce semiconductors and other important materials in case of emergency
2024-12-24 23:41:00
The government has unveiled a proposal for a system that would allow the government to temporarily acquire companies' factories and equipment in the event of an emergency for certain important materials, such as semiconductors, that are essential to people's lives, and outsource production to the private sector as a government project.
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Kumamoto and other areas to ease visa requirements for foreign engineers amid labor shortage concerns
2024-12-24 21:47:00
The government has decided to relax visa requirements to make it easier to hire foreign engineers in Kumamoto Prefecture and other areas, citing concerns about a labor shortage in light of the expansion of semiconductor factories.
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Government to make arrangements to hold ceremony 100 years after the start of Showa era next year
2024-12-24 21:31:00
The government plans to hold a commemorative event the year after next, 100 years after the start of the Showa era, and has decided to make arrangements to hold the ceremony with April 29th, Showa Day, in mind.
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Government launches new strategy to promote infrastructure exports, focusing on environment and disaster prevention
2024-12-24 21:14:00
The government has decided on a new strategy to promote infrastructure exports, focusing on areas where Japan has strengths, such as the environment and disaster prevention, and aiming to increase orders to 45 trillion yen in 2030, roughly 1.5 times the amount received in the previous year.
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Treatment of teacher salary increase solidified as "gradual increase to 10% without conditions"
2024-12-24 21:07:00
Cabinet negotiations between Finance Minister Kato and other ministers began on the 24th to draw up the government's budget proposal for next fiscal year. Regarding the focus of attention, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Abe and Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology agreed to gradually raise the additional salary for teachers from the current 4% to 10% by fiscal 2030, without attaching conditions such as reducing overtime work.
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Japan and Laos celebrate 70 years of diplomatic relations with Chisako Takashima appointed as Goodwill Ambassador
2024-12-24 21:05:00
To mark the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Laos next year, violinist Chisako Takashima, who is involved in activities to donate musical instruments to children in Laos, has been appointed a Goodwill Ambassador.
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Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide medical and food aid to Gaza Strip and other areas worth 13.5 billion yen
2024-12-24 20:39:00
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has decided to provide medical and food assistance worth 13.5 billion yen to the Gaza Strip and other areas of Palestine, where attacks by Israeli forces continue.
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Foreign Minister Iwasaki to attend Japan-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Beijing, first face-to-face meeting with Foreign Minister Wang Yi
2024-12-24 19:46:00
At a press conference, Foreign Minister Iwao announced that he will visit Beijing on the 25th and hold the first-ever face-to-face meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
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Extraordinary Diet session closed, supplementary budget and political reform-related bills passed [Reactions and Commentary]
2024-12-24 19:30:00
The 216th Extraordinary Diet Session has concluded after 27 days.
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"We want to finish the House of Councillors Ethics Committee before the regular Diet session begins," says LDP Secretary-General
2024-12-24 19:27:00
Regarding the House of Councillors Political Ethics Review Committee, LDP Secretary-General Matsuyama expressed his desire to complete the review of the 18 lawmakers, for which a date has not yet been set, before the regular Diet session convenes next year.
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Treatment of teacher salary increase solidified as "gradual increase to 10% without conditions"
2024-12-24 19:07:00
Cabinet negotiations between Finance Minister Kato and other ministers began on the 24th to draw up the government's budget proposal for next fiscal year. Regarding the focus of attention, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Abe and Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology agreed to gradually raise the additional salary for teachers from the current 4% to 10% by fiscal 2030, without attaching conditions such as reducing overtime work.
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Prime Minister: "Political reform-related laws and supplementary budget passed through consensus among minority ruling parties"
2024-12-24 19:03:00
Prime Minister Ishiba held a press conference following the closing of the extraordinary Diet session, emphasizing that despite being in a minority government, he had made efforts to reach as broad a consensus as possible and had been able to pass the political reform bill and the supplementary budget. On the other hand, he indicated that he intends to reach a decision on the treatment of corporate and group donations by the end of March next year.
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Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare council presents draft report on direction of pension system reform
2024-12-24 18:57:00
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare's Social Security Council has presented a draft report on the direction of pension system reform. The report states that the proposal to shorten the period during which benefits are kept lower than the rate of increase in prices and wages in order to raise the basic pension level should be further considered as a precaution in case the economy does not perform well.
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Extraordinary Diet session closed, supplementary budget and political reform bill passed
2024-12-24 18:33:00
The 216th Extraordinary Diet Session has concluded after 27 days.
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Next fiscal year's budget proposal to allocate approximately 330 billion yen to advanced semiconductor sector including Rapidus
2024-12-24 18:22:00
The government has earmarked approximately 330 billion yen in the next fiscal year's budget proposal to support the field of advanced semiconductors. This includes an investment in Lapidus, which aims to domestically manufacture advanced semiconductors. If the investment is realized, the government will essentially become a shareholder of Lapidus.
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Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi: "Extremely regrettable" release of former Sea Shepherd leader
2024-12-24 18:21:00
Regarding Denmark's decision to refuse to extradite and release the former leader of the anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi met with members of the Liberal Democratic Party's special committee and expressed deep regret, conveying the Japanese government's intention to consider how to respond.
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Revised Childcare Leave Law for Local Government Officials Passed, Allowing Partial Leave to be Taken Flexible
2024-12-24 18:13:00
The revised Childcare Leave Act for Local Government Employees, which allows local government employees to flexibly take short periods of leave known as "partial leave" to make it easier for them to balance work and childcare, was passed and enacted at the House of Councilors plenary session on the 24th.
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Political reform law to abolish policy activity expenses passed in favor of both ruling and opposition parties
2024-12-24 18:10:00
Three bills related to political reform, which clearly state that policy activity expenses should be abolished, were passed and enacted in the House of Councillors plenary session with the support of not only the ruling party but also opposition parties such as the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan.
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Prime Minister: "Political reform-related laws and supplementary budget passed through consensus among minority ruling parties"
2024-12-24 18:03:00
Prime Minister Ishiba held a press conference following the closing of the extraordinary Diet session, emphasizing that despite being in a minority government, he had made efforts to reach as broad a consensus as possible and had been able to pass the political reform bill and the supplementary budget. On the other hand, he indicated that he intends to reach a decision on the treatment of corporate and group donations by the end of March next year.
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Extraordinary Diet session closed, supplementary budget and political reform bill passed
2024-12-24 17:41:00
The 216th Extraordinary Diet Session has concluded after 27 days.
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[Breaking News] Abolishing policy activity expenses and passing a bill related to political reform
2024-12-24 17:03:00
Three bills related to political reform, which clearly state that policy activity expenses should be abolished, were passed and enacted in the House of Councillors plenary session with the support of not only the ruling party but also opposition parties such as the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan.
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New timetable for Basic Plan for Space Policy decided: "Accelerate to keep up with international competition"
2024-12-24 15:24:00
The government has decided on a new roadmap for the Basic Space Plan, which includes measures such as coordinating small satellites to improve missile detection capabilities, and Prime Minister Ishiba has instructed relevant ministers to accelerate efforts so as not to fall behind on the international stage.
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[Live broadcast scheduled] Prime Minister Ishiba's press conference today at the end of the extraordinary Diet session
2024-12-24 15:15:00
Prime Minister Ishiba will hold a press conference at the Prime Minister's Office at 5:20 pm today, the last day of the extraordinary Diet session. The contents of the press conference will be streamed live.
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Government decides on basic concept for regional revitalization: "Society will function even with declining population"
2024-12-24 15:03:00
The government has decided on its basic approach to regional revitalization, which Prime Minister Ishiba has positioned as a key policy. Based on reflections over the past decade, the government will implement measures such as improving the living environment in regional areas and utilizing new technologies in order to keep society functioning even with a declining population.
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Next fiscal year's budget proposal to allocate approximately 330 billion yen to advanced semiconductor sector including Rapidus
2024-12-24 14:32:00
The government has decided to allocate approximately 330 billion yen in next year's budget proposal to support the field of advanced semiconductors. This includes an investment in Lapidus, which aims to domestically produce advanced semiconductors. If the investment is realized, the government will essentially become a shareholder of Lapidus.
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Education Minister Abe to attend Japan-China High-Level People-to-People and Cultural Exchange Dialogue in Beijing
2024-12-24 13:15:00
Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Abe will visit China from the 25th to attend high-level dialogue and other events aimed at promoting people-to-people and cultural exchanges between Japan and China.
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Bill to abolish policy activity expenses and related to political reform passed today by special committee
2024-12-24 13:14:00
The bill on political reform, which includes the abolition of policy activity expenses, was voted on and passed by a special committee of the House of Councillors. It is expected to be passed by the House of Councillors plenary session in the afternoon and become law.
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Defense Minister Nakatani to visit Indonesia in January to meet with defense minister
2024-12-24 12:12:00
At a press conference after the cabinet meeting, Defense Minister Nakatani announced that he would visit Indonesia in January to meet with Defense Minister Shahri, and expressed his intention to exchange views on the situation in the South China Sea, among other issues.
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LDP and Komeito to "continue discussions in good faith" with Democratic Party for the People to review 1.03 million yen threshold
2024-12-24 12:08:00
Regarding the review of the "1.03 million yen annual income barrier," the secretaries-general of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito confirmed that they would continue discussions in good faith, as the Democratic Party for the People is calling for a further increase from the ruling party's policy of setting the income tax deduction at 1.23 million yen.
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Minister of Justice: "It is necessary to continue to clarify activities" to maintain the Group Regulation Law
2024-12-24 11:59:00
The "Organization Control Law," which was enacted in response to a series of crimes committed by the Aum Shinrikyo cult, is due for review this month. Justice Minister Suzuki has made clear his intention to maintain the law, citing the need to continue to clarify the cult's activities.
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Abolishing policy activity expenses, political reform-related bill to be enacted today
2024-12-24 11:53:00
The extraordinary Diet session will end on the 24th, and the political reform-related bill, which clearly states the abolition of policy activity expenses, is expected to be passed by a special committee of the House of Councillors afterwards, and then a vote will be held in the House of Councillors plenary session in the afternoon, where it is likely to be passed and enacted.
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Expanding the scope of use of basic resident registration network information
2024-12-24 11:49:00
The government has decided on a policy for decentralization that includes expanding the scope of use of information from the Basic Resident Registration Network by local governments. Prime Minister Ishiba has instructed relevant cabinet ministers to work toward further delegation of authority in order to realize regional revitalization.
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Next fiscal year's budget proposal to be finalized through ministerial negotiations with the Ministers of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Economy, Trade and Industry, and Foreign Affairs
2024-12-24 11:15:00
The government's draft budget for next fiscal year is entering the final stages, with final adjustments being made to individual items that have yet to be finalized in cabinet negotiations between Finance Minister Katsuyuki Kato and other ministers.
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Prime Minister Ishiba's Activities December 23, 2024
2024-12-24 10:31:00
(Prime Minister Ishiba's Activities December 23, 2024)
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Extraordinary Diet session ends today, aiming to amend the Political Funds Control Law
2024-12-24 05:19:00
The extraordinary Diet session will reach its final session on the 24th. A bill related to political reform, which includes the abolition of policy activity expenses, was passed with the support of the opposition parties, and it is expected that the Political Funds Control Law will be revised again.
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Prime Minister Ishiba to explain the results of the current Diet session at the end of today's press conference
2024-12-24 00:04:00
Prime Minister Ishiba will hold a press conference on the 24th, at the end of the current Diet session, to explain the results of the session.
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