2025-03-19 21:57:00
Lawmakers from the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, who are aiming to make a consumption tax cut and other such measures a campaign pledge for the summer's House of Councillors election, met and confirmed that they will summarize their thinking by the middle of next month on the extent of the tax rate cut and the source of funding.
2025-03-19 21:44:00
Regarding the bill related to pension system reform, whose submission to the Diet has been postponed, at a meeting of the Liberal Democratic Party on the 19th, while there were voices in favor of submitting it, there were also voices voicing caution, and it was decided that discussions would continue, including holding hearings with Keidanren and Rengo next week.
2025-03-19 21:40:00
A joint committee of the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors was held to consider how to use the old correspondence expenses and the current "research, public relations, and living expenses" expenses, and a draft outline was presented. The expenses would not be allowed to be used for election campaign expenses, and the amount spent and any surplus would be reported annually and made public on the Internet for three years.
2025-03-19 20:46:00
Prime Minister Ishiba met with Yasushi Chimura, who was abducted by North Korea and returned to Japan 23 years ago, and conveyed his determination to make every effort to ensure that all victims return home as soon as possible, as the victims and their families are aging.
2025-03-19 20:33:00
On the 19th, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, the Japan Restoration Party, and others jointly submitted a bill to the Diet to review corporate and group donations. The bill would completely ban donations from companies and labor unions, and would set a cap on donations from political groups formed by industry groups and other organizations.
2025-03-19 19:35:00
On the 19th, a third-party committee commissioned by Hyogo Prefecture to investigate the whistleblower documents filed by Governor Saito released a report stating that the prefecture's response to the whistleblower documents violated the Whistleblower Protection Act and that the governor's words and actions constituted power harassment.
2025-03-19 18:45:00
On the 19th, a third-party committee commissioned by Hyogo Prefecture to investigate the whistleblower documents filed by Governor Saito released a report stating that the prefecture's response to the whistleblower documents violated the Whistleblower Protection Act and that the governor's words and actions constituted power harassment.
2025-03-19 18:30:00
Regarding Prime Minister Ishiba's gift certificate distribution issue, the opposition parties repeatedly criticized him at the House of Councillors Budget Committee, saying that his actions were far removed from public opinion. In response, Prime Minister Ishiba reiterated his intention to work on restoring public trust. However, Prime Minister Ishiba explained that he was not aware of whether previous prime ministers had distributed gift certificates.
2025-03-19 18:24:00
Eisaku Sato, who served as the Governor of Fukushima Prefecture and a member of the House of Councillors, passed away in the early hours of the 19th. He was 85 years old.
2025-03-19 17:59:00
It has come to light that attendees at a meeting with parliamentary vice-ministers held at the Prime Minister's official residence during the term of office of former Prime Minister Kishida of the Liberal Democratic Party received gift certificates from Kishida's office. Kishida's office has stated that it has "always responded appropriately and in accordance with the law."
2025-03-19 17:31:00
On the 19th, a third-party committee commissioned by Hyogo Prefecture to investigate the whistleblower documents filed by Governor Saito released a report stating that the prefecture's response to the whistleblower documents violated the Whistleblower Protection Act and that the governor's words and actions constituted power harassment.
2025-03-19 17:07:00
The Ministry of Finance presented a list of documents it plans to disclose soon to the board of directors of the House of Councilors' Budget Committee regarding the disclosure of documents related to Moritomo Gakuen. The list includes over 400 documents, including emails between the Kinki Finance Bureau and the Ministry of Finance headquarters detailing the process of land transactions with the school, and is said to be over 2,000 pages in length.
2025-03-19 16:53:00
Members of the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations, or Nihon Hidankyo, who were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, were invited to the Diet on the 19th, and the Speakers of both the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors offered their congratulations.
2025-03-19 16:51:00
On the 19th, a third-party committee commissioned by Hyogo Prefecture to investigate the whistleblower documents filed by Governor Saito released a report stating that the prefecture's response to the whistleblower documents, including that of Governor Saito, violated the Whistleblower Protection Act and acknowledged the governor's words and actions as power harassment.
2025-03-19 16:02:00
It was reported that during the term of former Prime Minister Kishida of the Liberal Democratic Party, attendees at a meeting with parliamentary secretaries held at the Prime Minister's official residence received gift certificates from Kishida's side. Kishida's office stated that "we always respond appropriately in accordance with the law."
2025-03-19 15:54:00
Voting will take place on March 23rd for the Fukuoka Prefectural Governor Election. The election was announced on the 6th, with four candidates, both incumbents and newcomers, running. In the election campaign, each candidate is appealing to voters with their own policies in their own way. We followed the battle. *Also included are analysis of the candidates' speeches, uncut videos, and reporters' commentary on candidate questionnaires. Content will be updated throughout the election period.
2025-03-19 15:50:00
Liberal Democratic Party Secretary-General Moriyama will become the new chairman of a cross-party group of lawmakers working to ensure the success of the Osaka-Kansai Expo, which opens in April.
2025-03-19 15:23:00
The Ministry of Finance presented a list of documents it plans to disclose soon to the board of directors of the House of Councilors' Budget Committee regarding the disclosure of documents related to Moritomo Gakuen. The list includes over 400 documents, including emails between the Kinki Finance Bureau and the Ministry of Finance headquarters detailing the process of land transactions with the school, and is said to be over 2,000 pages in length.
2025-03-19 14:37:00
It was reported that during the term of former Prime Minister Kishida of the Liberal Democratic Party, attendees at a meeting with parliamentary secretaries held at the Prime Minister's official residence received gift certificates from Kishida's side. Kishida's office stated that "we always respond appropriately in accordance with the law."
2025-03-19 14:31:00
NHK's budget for the new fiscal year 2025 was approved by a majority vote in the House of Representatives General Affairs Committee on the 19th, with support from the Liberal Democratic Party, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, and other parties.
2025-03-19 14:18:00
A bill to introduce "active cyber defense" to prevent cyber attacks before they occur has begun deliberation in a House of Representatives committee, and Digital Minister Taira emphasized that the system will be designed to prevent arbitrary operation by the government and that the "secrecy of communications" guaranteed by the Constitution will not be violated.
2025-03-19 12:59:00
During the intensive Diet deliberations in the House of Councillors Budget Committee, Prime Minister Ishiba repeatedly apologized, saying that he deeply regrets the gift certificate distribution issue. However, in response to criticism from the opposition parties that this is the same as the issue surrounding the political fundraising parties held by a faction of the Liberal Democratic Party, he reiterated that this does not constitute a violation of the Political Funds Control Law.
2025-03-19 12:56:00
In relation to the current issue of the gift certificate distribution, at the House of Representatives' Judicial Affairs Committee, Justice Minister Suzuki mentioned the possibility that suit tailoring vouchers may have been distributed to opposition lawmakers 20 years ago, but the opposition parties are calling for a correction.
2025-03-19 12:08:00
It was reported that during the term of former Prime Minister Kishida of the Liberal Democratic Party, attendees at a meeting with parliamentary secretaries held at the Prime Minister's official residence received gift certificates from Kishida's side. Kishida's office stated that "we always respond appropriately in accordance with the law."
2025-03-19 12:06:00
During the intensive Diet deliberations in the House of Councillors Budget Committee, Prime Minister Ishiba repeatedly apologized, saying that he deeply regrets the gift certificate distribution issue. However, in response to criticism from the opposition parties that this is the same as the issue surrounding the political fundraising parties held by a faction of the Liberal Democratic Party, he reiterated that this does not constitute a violation of the Political Funds Control Law.
2025-03-19 10:15:00
(Prime Minister Ishiba's Activities March 18, 2025)
2025-03-19 05:07:00
The new fiscal year budget bill is expected to be passed after being amended again in the House of Councillors due to the postponement of the review of the high-cost medical care system. However, the opposition parties have pointed out that the issue of Prime Minister Ishiba's distribution of gift certificates will affect the deliberation schedule, and the ruling parties' goal of passing the bill within the fiscal year is a close call.
