2025-02-21 23:34:00
Foreign Minister Iwaki, who is visiting South Africa, met with Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan and emphasized the importance of steadily implementing the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip in Palestine. The two ministers agreed to work together to achieve long-term peace and stability.
2025-02-21 21:46:00
At the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in South Africa, Foreign Minister Iwaki called for the G20 to unite in tackling challenges such as natural disasters and climate change, and emphasized the importance of free trade, bearing in mind the measures proposed by U.S. President Trump to impose high tariffs.
2025-02-21 21:24:00
Prime Minister Ishiba exchanged views with the managers of "medium-sized enterprises" in a roundtable discussion, and expressed his intention to implement support measures based on his vision of setting a goal of making the growth of "medium-sized enterprises" more than four times Japan's overall economic growth after 2030.
2025-02-21 20:29:00
Regarding the revision of the new fiscal year budget, the policy chiefs of the Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito Party, and the Japan Restoration Party confirmed the direction of the contents of free education and reduction of social insurance burden. The draft agreement clearly states that the upper limit of the subsidy for private high schools will be raised to 457,000 yen from April next year, and will be taken back to each party to proceed with the internal procedures.
2025-02-21 20:17:00
Regarding the review of the "1.03 million yen annual income barrier," in tax discussions with the LDP and the Democratic Party for the People, the Komeito Party presented a new proposal to expand the scope of those eligible for the income tax exemption from those with an annual income of 5 million yen or less, as proposed by the LDP in the previous proposal, to those with an annual income of 8.5 million yen or less.
2025-02-21 19:33:00
In the Diet, the House of Representatives Budget Committee held an intensive debate, and the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan once again demanded a complete freeze on the increase in the upper limit of the "High-cost Medical Care Expenses System," which reduces the out-of-pocket expenses of patients with high medical expenses, stating that only partial revisions are not enough. In response, Prime Minister Ishiba asked for understanding that this was the bare minimum conclusion reached in order to sustain the system, while taking into consideration the needs of patients.
2025-02-21 18:30:00
Regarding the review of the "1.03 million yen annual income barrier," in tax discussions with the LDP and the Democratic Party for the People, the Komeito Party presented a new proposal to expand the scope of those eligible for the income tax exemption from those with an annual income of 5 million yen or less, as proposed by the LDP in the previous proposal, to those with an annual income of 8.5 million yen or less.
2025-02-21 18:02:00
Regarding the revision of the new fiscal year budget, the policy directors of the Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito Party, and the Japan Restoration Party confirmed the direction of the contents of the free education and reduction of social insurance burden. Each party will take back the draft agreement document and proceed with the internal procedures.
2025-02-21 17:55:00
Regarding the review of the "1.03 million yen annual income barrier," a senior LDP official revealed that they are considering a new proposal to expand the scope of those eligible for the income tax exemption from those with an annual income of 5 million yen or less, as stated in the previous LDP proposal, to those with an annual income of 8.5 million yen or less.
2025-02-21 17:09:00
Regarding the review of the "1.03 million yen annual income barrier," a senior LDP official revealed that they are considering a new proposal to expand the scope of those eligible for the income tax exemption from those with an annual income of 5 million yen or less, as stated in the previous LDP proposal, to those with an annual income of 8.5 million yen or less.
2025-02-21 16:28:00
At a government-ruling party liaison meeting, Prime Minister Ishiba emphasized his intention that the government and ruling parties will work together to respond to the policy discussions currently being held by the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito Party with the Japan Restoration Party and the Democratic Party for the People, respectively, and to aim to pass the new fiscal year budget proposal within the fiscal year.
2025-02-21 15:49:00
Regarding the review of the "1.03 million yen annual income barrier," a senior LDP official revealed that they are considering a new proposal to expand the scope of those eligible for the income tax exemption from those with an annual income of 5 million yen or less, as stated in the previous LDP proposal, to those with an annual income of 8.5 million yen or less.
2025-02-21 15:47:00
Regarding the revision of the new fiscal year budget proposal, policy chiefs of the Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito Party and the Japan Restoration Party met again on the 20th. In order to finalize the agreement document between the three parties, the final adjustments are continuing, mainly regarding the wording on the remaining issue of reducing the burden of social insurance premiums.
2025-02-21 15:21:00
Following reports that Justice Minister Suzuki was suspected of violating the Public Offices Election Act by distributing sweets to Ministry of Justice employees, Prime Minister Ishiba revealed that he had given Minister Suzuki a stern warning, but indicated his intention not to dismiss him and to allow him to continue in his duties.
2025-02-21 14:51:00
Regarding the review of the "1.03 million yen annual income barrier," a senior LDP official revealed that they are considering a new proposal to expand the scope of those eligible for the income tax exemption from those with an annual income of 5 million yen or less, as stated in the previous LDP proposal, to those with an annual income of 8.5 million yen or less.
2025-02-21 14:47:00
The House of Representatives Budget Committee held intensive deliberations on the new fiscal year budget proposal, and Prime Minister Ishiba expressed his intention to find stable and permanent funding sources for the move to make high school tuition free, stating that the burden must not be passed on to future generations.
2025-02-21 14:28:00
Regarding the revision of the new fiscal year budget proposal, policy chiefs of the Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito Party and the Japan Restoration Party met again on the 20th. In order to finalize the agreement document between the three parties, the final adjustments are continuing, mainly regarding the wording on the remaining issue of reducing the burden of social insurance premiums.
2025-02-21 12:58:00
Shinji Ishimaru, a candidate in last year's Tokyo gubernatorial election, said at a press conference on the 21st that the campaign team spent over 970,000 yen on a company that live-streamed rallies during the election period. Ishimaru explained that the expenditure did not include labor costs, and that the company cooperated as a volunteer.
2025-02-21 12:50:00
The House of Representatives Budget Committee held intensive deliberations on the new fiscal year budget proposal, and Prime Minister Ishiba expressed his intention to find stable and permanent funding sources for the move to make high school tuition free, stating that the burden must not be passed on to future generations.
2025-02-21 12:47:00
Regarding the revision of the new fiscal year budget proposal, policy chiefs of the Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito Party and the Japan Restoration Party met again on the 20th. In order to finalize the agreement document between the three parties, the final adjustments are continuing, mainly regarding the wording on the remaining issue of reducing the burden of social insurance premiums.
2025-02-21 12:20:00
At a press conference after the cabinet meeting, Defense Minister Nakatani revealed that he will visit the Philippines from the 22nd to meet with Defense Minister Teodoro, and expressed his desire to strengthen security cooperation with the Philippines, with China's increasing maritime expansion in mind.
2025-02-21 12:18:00
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has announced its intention to begin interviewing local governments from the 21st and provide financial support within the next month, as heavy snowfall has been occurring in succession in various areas this season and local governments are at risk of running short of funds for snow removal.
2025-02-21 12:18:00
The House of Representatives Budget Committee held intensive deliberations on the new fiscal year budget proposal, and Prime Minister Ishiba expressed his intention to find stable and permanent funding sources for the move to make high school tuition free, stating that the burden must not be passed on to future generations.
2025-02-21 11:48:00
In response to U.S. President Trump's successive measures to impose high tariffs on imports, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Muto has announced that he will meet with Japan's steel, aluminum and automobile industries as early as next week to discuss future responses.
2025-02-21 11:39:00
The Central Council for Education, which has been examining the state of higher education in an era of declining birthrates, submitted a report to Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Abe on the 21st. It states that it will be inevitable that universities will be forced to stop accepting students in the future, and the report includes measures such as strengthening guidance on downsizing and tightening the approval process for establishment.
2025-02-21 10:44:00
Amid a succession of damage caused by bears and their appearance in urban areas, the government has approved a cabinet decision to amend the Wildlife Protection and Management Act to make it possible for municipalities to make exceptions to the use of hunting rifles in urban areas, which is currently prohibited, in cases where bears appear in people's living areas, at their discretion.
2025-02-21 10:35:00
(Prime Minister Ishiba's Activities February 20, 2025)
2025-02-21 05:46:00
Regarding the revision of the new fiscal year budget, the Liberal Democratic Party, the Komeito Party, and the Japan Restoration Party confirmed the direction of free education. The three parties will continue to work out the final wording of the agreement document on the 21st in order to find common ground on the remaining reduction of social insurance premiums.
2025-02-21 04:17:00
Foreign Minister Iwaki, who is attending the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in South Africa, expressed hope that diplomatic efforts will bring an end to the fighting in Ukraine and lead to a breakthrough in the difficult situation, and emphasized Japan's determination to continue supporting Ukraine.
