Political News(2025/03/27)
Minister Mihara on the former Eugenic Protection Law: "All efforts toward compensation and realization of a symbiotic society"
2025-03-27 21:40:00
The first regular meeting of consultations was held between the government and victims toward a comprehensive resolution of the issues surrounding the former Eugenic Protection Law, and Minister Mihara, who is in charge of the matter, repeatedly apologized, stating that the government's responsibility is extremely serious, and conveyed his intention to do everything in his power to provide compensation to victims and realize a society of coexistence.
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New fiscal year budget bill to be passed on the 28th without a plenary session of the House of Representatives being held
2025-03-27 20:24:00
With budget deliberations in the House of Councillors reaching a climax, the House of Representatives Committee on House Administration held a board meeting just after 6:00 p.m.
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New fiscal year budget bill to be passed on the 28th, House of Councillors plenary session not held
2025-03-27 19:47:00
With budget deliberations in the House of Councillors reaching a climax, the House of Representatives Committee on House Administration held a board meeting just after 6:00 p.m.
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As the schedule for voting on the new fiscal year budget reaches its final stage, the CDP "clarifies how to handle witness summons"
2025-03-27 19:44:00
The LDP and CDP Diet Affairs Committee chairpersons met to discuss the schedule for deliberations on the new fiscal year budget bill, with the CDP calling for clarification of how to handle the summoning of former Abe faction officials as witnesses on issues of politics and money ahead of the vote. On the 28th, the senior members of the House of Councillors of both parties are scheduled to discuss the schedule, including the vote, as the ruling and opposition parties continue to make final adjustments.
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Ishin Party co-chair Maehara: "We must reach a conclusion even if it means extending the deadline for corporate and group donations"
2025-03-27 19:42:00
Regarding the handling of corporate and group donations, Japan Restoration Party co-leader Maehara expressed the view that discussions should continue and a conclusion should be reached, even if it means extending the deadline agreed upon by the ruling and opposition parties at the end of this month to a certain extent.
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Prime Minister Ishiba: Corporate tax cuts "did not have the desired effect" - Reveals reform ideas
2025-03-27 19:09:00
Regarding the corporate tax cuts, Prime Minister Ishiba was told at the House of Councillors' Committee on Finance and Banking that the money had simply been put into companies' internal reserves. In response, he stated that the cuts had not had the expected effect, and that he would work on reforms in the future.
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The Japan Innovation Party calls on the LDP and Komeito to "abolish the provisional gasoline tax rate by this summer"
2025-03-27 19:03:00
The first meeting of the Japan Restoration Party and the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito Party on taxation was held, with the Restoration Party calling for the abolition of the provisional gasoline tax rate by this summer. In response, the ruling party indicated that it would be difficult to do so, as it would require legal reform, and the two parties agreed to continue discussions.
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As the schedule for voting on the new fiscal year budget reaches its final stage, the CDP "clarifies how to handle witness summons"
2025-03-27 18:47:00
The LDP and CDP Diet Affairs Committee chairpersons met to discuss the schedule for deliberations on the new fiscal year budget bill, with the CDP calling for clarification of how to handle the summoning of former Abe faction officials as witnesses on issues of politics and money ahead of the vote. On the 28th, the senior members of the House of Councillors of both parties are scheduled to discuss the schedule, including the vote, as the ruling and opposition parties continue to make final adjustments.
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Ishin Party co-chair Maehara: "We must reach a conclusion even if it means extending the deadline for corporate and group donations"
2025-03-27 18:02:00
Regarding the handling of corporate and group donations, Japan Restoration Party co-leader Maehara expressed the view that discussions should continue and a conclusion should be reached, even if it means extending the deadline agreed upon by the ruling and opposition parties at the end of this month to a certain extent.
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The House of Representatives Constitutional Review Committee discusses maintaining the Diet's functions in the event of a large-scale disaster
2025-03-27 15:49:00
At a House of Representatives Constitutional Review Committee meeting, the Liberal Democratic Party argued that in the event of a large-scale disaster or other emergency, the period for which parliamentary functions should be maintained during an emergency session of the House of Councillors should be a maximum of 70 days, while the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan expressed the view that there should be no limit on the period.
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Prime Minister Ishiba: "We may consider taking measures if necessary" to combat rising prices
2025-03-27 15:15:00
In the Diet, the House of Councillors Budget Committee held an intensive debate, where the opposition parties asked whether new measures to combat rising prices would be put forward after the new fiscal year budget bill was passed. In response, Prime Minister Ishiba said that he would first do his utmost to ensure the new fiscal year budget bill was passed as soon as possible, but that he recognized that new measures could be considered in the future if necessary.
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Ishin Party co-chair Maehara: "We must reach a conclusion even if it means extending the deadline for corporate and group donations"
2025-03-27 14:52:00
Regarding the handling of corporate and group donations, Japan Restoration Party co-leader Maehara expressed the view that discussions should continue and a conclusion should be reached, even if it means extending the deadline agreed upon by the ruling and opposition parties at the end of this month to a certain extent.
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LDP holds joint meeting to hear from small and medium-sized business associations regarding pension reform bill
2025-03-27 13:54:00
Regarding related bills on pension system reform, the details of which are currently being adjusted within the government and the LDP, representatives from small and medium-sized business associations and other groups attended a joint LDP meeting and called for support for business owners whose burdens will increase due to the expansion of coverage of employee pension insurance.
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Government releases first evacuation plan for Okinawa islands with "Taiwan emergency" in mind
2025-03-27 13:37:00
With a so-called "Taiwan emergency" in mind, the government has compiled and published for the first time an evacuation plan for Okinawa's remote islands. Approximately 120,000 residents will be evacuated within about six days and accepted into 32 cities and towns in Kyushu and Yamaguchi Prefecture.
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Prime Minister Ishiba apologizes for "measures against high prices" remarks at House of Councillors Budget Committee
2025-03-27 12:58:00
Prime Minister Ishiba apologized for causing trouble during the deliberations at the House of Councillors Budget Committee for his earlier announcement that he would implement strong measures to combat rising prices after the new fiscal year budget bill was passed. He then asked for understanding for the early passage of the budget bill, saying that it was necessary to mobilize all the policies included in the bill to tackle rising prices.
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Former Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Masaharu Tanabe dies at age 90
2025-03-27 12:35:00
On the 26th, Masaharu Tanabe, who served as Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, passed away due to pneumonia. He was 90 years old.
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New fiscal year budget proposal to be intensively discussed at Budget Committee on the 28th; voting schedule finalized
2025-03-27 12:10:00
The LDP and the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) met to discuss the schedule for deliberation of the new fiscal year budget bill, and agreed to hold intensive deliberations in the Budget Committee on the 28th. The LDP has proposed to vote on the budget bill in the plenary session following the committee meeting on the 28th, and coordination between the ruling and opposition parties is reaching a critical stage.
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Prime Minister Ishiba apologizes for "measures against high prices" remarks at House of Councillors Budget Committee
2025-03-27 12:01:00
Prime Minister Ishiba apologized for causing trouble during the deliberations at the House of Councillors Budget Committee for his earlier announcement that he would implement strong measures to combat rising prices after the new fiscal year budget bill was passed. He then asked for understanding for the early passage of the budget bill, saying that it was necessary to mobilize all the policies included in the bill to tackle rising prices.
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Prime Minister Ishiba apologizes for "measures against high prices" remarks at House of Councillors Budget Committee
2025-03-27 09:51:00
Prime Minister Ishiba apologized at the House of Councillors Budget Committee on the 27th for his earlier suggestion of implementing strong measures to combat rising prices after the new fiscal year budget bill is passed, saying, "I am sorry that my remarks caused concern and inconvenience during the Budget Committee deliberations." He went on to explain, "The gist of what I said was not to implement new budgetary measures, but to mobilize all policies included in this year's supplementary budget and the new fiscal year budget bill to work toward overcoming rising prices." He went on to say, "It is important to steadily implement measures that will help overcome rising prices, and I would like your understanding in working toward the early passage of the new fiscal year budget bill."
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Prime Minister Ishiba's Activities March 26, 2025
2025-03-27 08:07:00
(March 26th) 08:04 Departure from the Prime Minister's Residence on foot 08:05 Arrival at the Prime Minister's Residence 08:15 Meeting with Minister of State for Economic Revitalization Akazawa Akimasa, Deputy Secretary-General of the Cabinet Secretariat's Headquarters for the Realization of New Capitalism Kawanishi Yasuyuki, and Director-General of the Economic and Industrial Policy Bureau of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Fujiki Toshimitsu (until 08:48) 08:50 Meeting with Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa, Director-General of the National Security Secretariat Okano Masayoshi, Deputy Director-General for Management and Coordination Imagawa Takuro, Director-General of the Economic Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Katahira Satoshi, Vice-Minister for Finance Mimura Jun, Vice-Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Watanabe Yoichi, Administrative Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Iida Yuji, Director-General of the Trade Policy Bureau of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Arai Katsuyoshi, Commissioner-General of the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy Murase Yoshifumi, Vice-Minister for Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Terada Yoshimichi, and Director-General of the Defense Policy Bureau of the Ministry of Defense Yamato Taro (until 09:41) 09:50 Met with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Keiichiro Tachibana, Cabinet Public Relations Secretary Maki Kobayashi, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister Masafumi Mori, Brazilian Ambassador Teiji Hayashi, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Hiroyuki Namazu, Director-General for Latin America and the Caribbean Affairs Bureau Yasushi Noguchi, Director-General for Economic Affairs Katahira, Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Watanabe, Director-General for Trade Policy Bureau of METI Arai, Deputy Minister for Global Environment Matsuzawa Yutaka, and Deputy Minister for Defense Koji Kano (until 11:10). 11:30 Met with Director-General for Defense Policy Bureau of the Ministry of Defense Yamato (until 11:55). 11:57 Departure from the Prime Minister's Office. 12:02 Arrived at Hotel New Otani in Kioicho, Tokyo. Attended the Japan-Brazil Economic Forum at the banquet hall "Fuyou no Ma". Greetings. 12:53 Departure from the same place. 12:58 Arrived at the House of Councillors Annex No. 2. Teeth cleaning at dental clinic 13:09 Departure from dental clinic 13:12 Arrives at Prime Minister's Office 13:51 Recording of video message for economic events, etc. (until 14:00) 14:03 Presentation of appointment letter to Bank of Japan Policy Board member Koeda Junko (until 14:04) 14:15 Meeting with Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Eto Taku, Administrative Vice-Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Watanabe Takeshi, Chief Cabinet Secretary Nagai Toshihiko, and Director-General of the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Bureau Matsuo Hironori (until 15:24) 15:28 Meeting with Special Advisor to the Prime Minister Mori and Deputy Director-General of the Cabinet Secretariat's National Resilience Promotion Office Niwa Katsuhiko (until 15:48) 15:57 Meeting with Minister in charge of Economic Revitalization Akazawa, Deputy Secretary-General of the Headquarters for Realizing a New Capitalism Kasai, and Director-General of the Cabinet Office Gender Equality Bureau Okada Keiko (until 16:18) 16:46 Meeting of the "Project Team for Promoting Women's Participation in the Workplace" (until 16:52) 16:55 Meeting with Hayashi, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Tachibana Tadashi, Cabinet Secretary for Crisis Management Kojima Hirofumi, Deputy Director-General for Recovery and Reconstruction Assistance Nagahashi Kazuhisa, Cabinet Office Deputy Director-General for Policy Takahashi Kenji, Fire and Disaster Management Agency Commissioner Ikeda Tatsuo, Forestry Agency Commissioner Aoyama Toyohisa, and Deputy Chief of the Joint Staff Office of the Ministry of Defense Ono Isao (until 17:16) 17:44 Departure from the Prime Minister's Office 17:51 Arrival at the State Guest House in Motoakasaka, Tokyo 18:03 Welcoming Brazilian President Lula (until 18:04) 18:05 Summit meeting with President Lula, small group meeting (until 18:50) 18:55 Photograph taken with President Lula (until 18:56) 18:57 Summit meeting with President Lula (until 19:48) 19:56 Cooperation document announcement ceremony, joint press conference (until 20:25) 20:32 Dinner hosted by Prime Minister Ishiba (until 21:45) 21:48 Seeing off President Lula 21:50 Departure from the same place 21:56 Arrival at the official residence
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Ruling and opposition parties finalize negotiations over new fiscal year budget voting schedule
2025-03-27 04:16:00
The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has proposed to hold a vote on the new fiscal year budget bill at the House of Councillors Budget Committee on the 28th, aiming to have it enacted within the fiscal year. However, the Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP) has not accepted this, citing insufficient deliberation time, and the ruling and opposition parties are reaching a critical stage in coordinating the voting schedule.
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