This page is the news announced by NHK, a representative TV station in Japan.

Political News(2024/12/25)


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Prime Minister Ishiba speaks with President Zelensky by phone, "Working together to achieve peace"

2024-12-25 22:56:00
Prime Minister Ishiba spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky over the phone. He explained that Japan has consistently supported Ukraine and imposed sanctions on Russia, and expressed his intention to cooperate with Ukraine to achieve a just and lasting peace.

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Minister of Foreign Affairs Iwao to ease visa requirements for Chinese tourists visiting Japan

2024-12-25 22:31:00
During a meeting of relevant ministers held in China, Foreign Minister Iwao revealed his intention to relax visa issuance requirements for Chinese tourists visiting Japan, including the creation of a new 10-year visa for some of the wealthy.

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Japan-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting: China's Foreign Minister agrees to visit Japan and hold dialogue early next year

2024-12-25 21:14:00
During his visit to China, Foreign Minister Iwaya met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and agreed to arrange for Wang to visit Japan early next year and to hold a "high-level economic dialogue" with relevant ministers. Minister Iwaya also called for the early resumption of imports of Japanese fishery products.

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Minister of Foreign Affairs Iwao to ease visa requirements for Chinese tourists visiting Japan

2024-12-25 19:58:00
During a meeting of relevant ministers held in China, Foreign Minister Iwao revealed his intention to relax visa issuance requirements for Chinese tourists visiting Japan, including the creation of a new 10-year visa for some of the wealthy.

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Hyogo Governor Saito testifies before the 100-Article Committee: "The prefecture's response was appropriate"

2024-12-25 19:38:00
The Hyogo Prefectural Assembly's Article 100 Committee held the final hearing of witnesses on the 25th regarding the issue of Hyogo Prefecture Governor Saito being accused of alleged power harassment, etc. Governor Saito, who attended for the first time since being re-elected in the recent gubernatorial election, reiterated his view that the prefecture's response to the accusatory documents was appropriate.

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Next fiscal year's general account budget total exceeds 115 trillion yen, the largest ever [Details]

2024-12-25 19:37:00
The government's budget plan for next fiscal year has been finalized, and reflecting increases in social security and defense spending, the general account will total approximately 115.5 trillion yen, the largest amount ever. Tax revenues are expected to exceed 78 trillion yen, the largest amount ever, but the government plans to issue more than 28 trillion yen in new government bonds. In negotiations between Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Fukuoka and Finance Minister Kato, it was decided to review the "high-cost medical care system" in order to reduce the insurance premium burden on the working generation, and to raise the upper limit from August next year.

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Japan-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting: China's Foreign Minister agrees to visit Japan and hold dialogue early next year

2024-12-25 19:29:00
During his visit to China, Foreign Minister Iwaya met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and agreed to arrange for Wang to visit Japan early next year and to hold a "high-level economic dialogue" with relevant ministers. Minister Iwaya also called for the early resumption of imports of Japanese fishery products.

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Next fiscal year's general account budget total exceeds 115 trillion yen, the largest ever [Details]

2024-12-25 18:55:00
The government's budget plan for next fiscal year has been finalized, and reflecting increases in social security and defense spending, the general account will total approximately 115.5 trillion yen, the largest amount ever. Tax revenues are expected to exceed 78 trillion yen, the largest amount ever, but the government plans to issue more than 28 trillion yen in new government bonds. In negotiations between Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Fukuoka and Finance Minister Kato, it was decided to review the "high-cost medical care system" in order to reduce the insurance premium burden on the working generation, and to raise the upper limit from August next year.

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"Relax the upper limit on paid leave acquired by the hour" - Regulatory Reform Promotion Council interim report

2024-12-25 18:40:00
The government's Regulatory Reform Promotion Council has compiled an interim report calling for the relaxation of the upper limit on the amount of paid leave that can be taken on an hourly basis, in order to encourage flexible working styles and make it easier to secure time for caregiving, child care, and extracurricular activities.

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[Live] Hyogo Prefectural Government 100-Article Committee Governor Saito: "The prefecture's response was appropriate"

2024-12-25 18:19:00
The Hyogo Prefectural Assembly's Article 100 Committee held the final hearing of witnesses on the 25th regarding the issue of Hyogo Prefecture Governor Saito being accused of alleged power harassment, etc. Governor Saito, who attended for the first time since being re-elected in the recent gubernatorial election, reiterated his view that the prefecture's response to the accusatory documents was appropriate.

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"Renewable energy to be the largest power source" - New government basic plan

2024-12-25 18:18:00
The government has put together a draft of a new Basic Energy Plan, which includes a plan to position renewable energy as the largest power source by fiscal 2040, and essentially received approval at a council meeting on the 25th. The plan will then be put out for public comment and then approved by a cabinet meeting within this fiscal year.

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Next fiscal year's general account budget total exceeds 115 trillion yen, the largest ever [Details]

2024-12-25 18:05:00
The government's budget plan for next fiscal year has been finalized, and reflecting increases in social security and defense spending, the general account will total approximately 115.5 trillion yen, the largest amount ever. Tax revenues are expected to exceed 78 trillion yen, the largest amount ever, but the government plans to issue more than 28 trillion yen in new government bonds. In negotiations between Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Fukuoka and Finance Minister Kato, it was decided to review the "high-cost medical care system" in order to reduce the insurance premium burden on the working generation, and to raise the upper limit from August next year.

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[Live] Hyogo Prefectural Government 100-Article Committee Governor Saito: "The prefecture's response was appropriate"

2024-12-25 18:04:00
The Hyogo Prefectural Assembly's Article 100 Committee held the final hearing of witnesses on the 25th regarding the issue of Hyogo Prefecture Governor Saito being accused of alleged power harassment, etc. Governor Saito, who attended for the first time since being re-elected in the recent gubernatorial election, reiterated his view that the prefecture's response to the accusatory documents was appropriate.

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Two Upper House lawmakers in the Ethics Committee say they were instructed by factions not to include the matter in the report

2024-12-25 18:00:00
On the 25th, the House of Councillors Political Ethics Committee conducted an investigation into four former Abe faction lawmakers in the Liberal Democratic Party. Two of them revealed that when they received refunds for excess amounts owed to them, their secretaries were instructed by the faction secretariat not to include the refunds in their income and expenditure reports.

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Komeito and Democratic Party for the People to consider designing a third-party organization to check political funds

2024-12-25 17:16:00
Following the passage of the political reform-related laws, the Komeito Party and the Democratic Party for the People have decided to set up a working group in the new year to consider the specific design of a third-party agency to check political funds.

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Next fiscal year's general account budget total expected to reach a record high of mid-115 trillion yen

2024-12-25 17:06:00
On the morning of the 25th, the Cabinet ministers made final adjustments to the government's budget proposal for next fiscal year, and it was revealed that the general account total is expected to reach the mid-115 trillion yen range, a new record high. In negotiations between Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Fukuoka and Finance Minister Kato, it was decided to review the "High-cost Medical Care Fee System" and raise the upper limit from August next year in order to reduce the insurance premium burden on the working generation.

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[Live] Hyogo Prefectural Government 100-Article Committee Governor Saito: "The prefecture's response was appropriate"

2024-12-25 16:56:00
The Hyogo Prefectural Assembly's Article 100 Committee held the final hearing of witnesses on the 25th regarding the issue of Hyogo Prefecture Governor Saito being accused of alleged power harassment, etc. Governor Saito, who attended for the first time since being re-elected in the recent gubernatorial election, reiterated his view that the prefecture's response to the accusatory documents was appropriate.

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Two Upper House lawmakers in the Ethics Committee say they were instructed by factions not to include the matter in the report

2024-12-25 16:56:00
On the 25th, the House of Councillors Political Ethics Committee conducted an investigation into four former Abe faction lawmakers in the Liberal Democratic Party. Two of them revealed that when they received refunds for excess amounts owed to them, their secretaries were instructed by the faction secretariat not to include the refunds in their income and expenditure reports.

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Next fiscal year's general account budget total expected to reach a record high of mid-115 trillion yen

2024-12-25 16:10:00
On the morning of the 25th, the Cabinet ministers made final adjustments to the government's budget proposal for next fiscal year, and it was revealed that the general account total is expected to reach the mid-115 trillion yen range, a new record high. In negotiations between Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Fukuoka and Finance Minister Kato, it was decided to review the "High-cost Medical Care Fee System" and raise the upper limit from August next year in order to reduce the insurance premium burden on the working generation.

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[Live] Hyogo Prefectural Government 100-Article Committee Governor Saito: "The prefecture's response was appropriate"

2024-12-25 16:10:00
The Hyogo Prefectural Assembly's Article 100 Committee held the final hearing of witnesses on the 25th regarding the issue of Hyogo Prefecture Governor Saito being accused of alleged power harassment, etc. Governor Saito, who attended for the first time since being re-elected in the recent gubernatorial election, reiterated his view that the prefecture's response to the accusatory documents was appropriate.

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METI begins discussions on legislation to provide financial support to Lapidus

2024-12-25 15:38:00
On the 25th, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry began discussions on the necessary legal framework to provide financial support to Rapidus, which aims to domestically produce advanced semiconductors. In this discussion, a proposal was presented to utilize the Information-Technology Promotion Agency (IPA), an independent administrative institution, as the entity that will provide investment and loan guarantees.

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Next fiscal year's general account budget total expected to reach a record high of mid-115 trillion yen

2024-12-25 15:09:00
The government's draft budget for next fiscal year, for which final adjustments were made during ministerial negotiations this morning, is expected to have a general account total of around 115 trillion yen, a new record high.

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[Live] Hyogo Prefectural 100-Article Committee: First hearing of Governor Saito since reelection

2024-12-25 15:03:00
The Hyogo Prefectural Assembly's Article 100 Committee, which is investigating the accusations against Hyogo Governor Saito of power harassment, is conducting its final witness questioning, and this is the first time that Governor Saito has appeared for questioning since being re-elected in the recent gubernatorial election.

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Government to allocate 8 billion yen to OSA, which provides defense equipment, etc., in next year's budget proposal

2024-12-25 14:48:00
In the draft budget for next fiscal year, the government has decided to allocate 8 billion yen, 3 billion yen more than this fiscal year, to OSA, which provides defense equipment and other items to the military forces of like-minded countries, and has begun making adjustments to include the Pacific island nation of Papua New Guinea in the budget.

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Japan-China foreign ministers' meeting begins, exchange of views on pending issues such as resumption of seafood imports

2024-12-25 13:41:00
Foreign Minister Iwasaki met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his visit to China. The two sides exchanged views on ways to build constructive and stable Japan-China relations, and are believed to have conveyed Japan's position on pending issues between the two countries, such as the early resumption of imports of Japanese fishery products.

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Next fiscal year's general account budget total expected to reach a record high of mid-115 trillion yen

2024-12-25 13:13:00
The government's draft budget for next fiscal year, for which final adjustments were made during ministerial negotiations this morning, is expected to have a general account total of around 115 trillion yen, a new record high.

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Hyogo: Final witness questioning at 100-article committee: Expert calls for verification of internal reporting system

2024-12-25 12:47:00
The Hyogo Prefectural Assembly's Article 100 Committee, which is investigating the accusations against Hyogo Governor Saito of alleged power harassment, held its final witness hearing on the 25th.Regarding the prefecture's response to the former prefectural official who made the accusation, an expert on the public interest whistleblowing system expressed the view that it is necessary to examine the system that was in place at the time for internal reporting.

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Foreign Minister Iwao meets with Chinese Premier Li Qiang to confirm strengthening communication

2024-12-25 12:36:00
Foreign Minister Iwasaki, who is visiting Beijing, China, met with Premier Li Qiang on the morning of the 25th. It is believed that the two sides confirmed the importance of further strengthening communication at all levels in order to build a constructive and stable relationship. This is the first visit by a Japanese foreign minister to China in 1 year and 8 months since April last year.

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Next fiscal year's general account budget total expected to reach a record high of mid-115 trillion yen

2024-12-25 11:47:00
The government's draft budget for next fiscal year, for which final adjustments were made during ministerial negotiations this morning, is expected to have a general account total of around 115 trillion yen, a new record high.

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Final adjustments are being made to the general account budget for next fiscal year, with the total amount to be in the mid-115 trillion yen range

2024-12-25 11:02:00
The government is in the final stages of making adjustments to the general account budget for next year, fiscal 2025, with the total amount set to be in the mid-115 trillion yen range. In addition to an increase in social security spending and defense spending, government bond expenses for redemption and interest payments on national bonds will also exceed this fiscal year's total, making it the third consecutive year that the initial budget will exceed 110 trillion yen, surpassing last year's and fiscal 2023 figures to become the largest ever.

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Prime Minister Ishiba's Activities December 24, 2024

2024-12-25 10:41:00
(Prime Minister Ishiba's Activities December 24, 2024)

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Foreign Minister Iwatake to meet with China today to discuss resuming imports of Japanese fishery products

2024-12-25 06:13:00
Foreign Minister Iwasaki will meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing today. The two sides will confirm their intention to strengthen communication in order to build constructive and stable Japan-China relations, and will also exchange views on issues such as the resumption of imports of Japanese fishery products.

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Extraordinary Diet session adjourns as government and ruling parties struggle to reach consensus on next year's budget

2024-12-25 05:00:00
The extraordinary Diet session ended with the passage of the supplementary budget and political reform-related legislation, with the ruling party losing a majority and the opposition parties cooperating. The government and ruling parties want to continue negotiations with the opposition parties with an eye on next year's budget deliberations, but each opposition party is strongly pushing for the realization of their policies, and it is expected that the situation will continue to be one in which it will be difficult to reach an agreement.

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