2025-04-03 22:51:00
Foreign Minister Iwaya, who is visiting Belgium, met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Sibiha from around 9:00 p.m. on the 3rd, Japan time. At the beginning of the meeting, Minister Iwaya conveyed Japan's position of continuing to support the realization of a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.
2025-04-03 22:45:00
The foreign ministers of Japan, the United States and South Korea met in Belgium on the sidelines of a NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) foreign ministers' meeting, where they shared serious concerns about North Korea's nuclear and missile development and the advancement of military cooperation with Russia, and reaffirmed their commitment to working together to address these issues.
2025-04-03 22:08:00
Following the major earthquake that struck central Myanmar, the Ministry of Defense dispatched a Self-Defense Forces investigation team to assess the damage situation on the ground and consider necessary assistance measures.
2025-04-03 22:06:00
Foreign Minister Iwaya, who is visiting Belgium, met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Sibiha from around 9 pm Japan time on the 3rd. At the start of the meeting, Minister Iwaya conveyed Japan's position of continuing to support the realization of a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.
2025-04-03 21:17:00
In preparation for the House of Councillors election and Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election this summer, Prime Minister Ishiba discussed how to respond with LDP Secretary-General Moriyama and others, and confirmed that they would begin full-scale preparations, saying that the situation is not optimistic given the sluggish cabinet approval rating and other factors.
2025-04-03 20:42:00
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has announced plans to make smartphones equipped with the functionality of the "My Number Health Insurance Card" available as early as September of this year at medical institutions that wish to introduce them, allowing patients to receive treatment without having to bring their My Number card with them.
2025-04-03 20:13:00
In response to the tariff measures imposed by the Trump administration in the United States, Prime Minister Ishiba and the leaders of the ruling and opposition parties are scheduled to meet on the afternoon of the 4th. Prime Minister Ishiba is expected to ask the leaders of each party for their cooperation, saying that he wants to take every possible measure to respond beyond the party line.
2025-04-03 19:18:00
The Liberal Democratic Party announced that a meeting between Prime Minister Ishiba and the leaders of the ruling and opposition parties will be held in the Diet on the afternoon of the 4th. According to sources, the topic of the meeting will be the tariff measures of the Trump administration in the United States, and Prime Minister Ishiba is expected to explain the government's response to each party leader.
2025-04-03 19:02:00
Regarding the tariff measures imposed by the Trump administration in the United States, Prime Minister Ishiba instructed Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Muto and other relevant cabinet ministers to carefully examine the content of the measures, analyze their impact, and strongly urge them to continue reviewing them. He also instructed them to take all possible measures to support corporate financing while taking into account the impact on domestic industry and employment.
2025-04-03 18:57:00
In an effort to gain support from younger generations, the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito have confirmed that they will establish a council made up of young lawmakers and introduce policies that will help alleviate the concerns of working and child-rearing generations.
2025-04-03 18:50:00
Coinciding with a meeting of foreign ministers of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), a meeting of foreign ministers from Japan, the United States and South Korea was held in Belgium, and it is believed the three countries confirmed their intention to work together in responding to North Korea, which is advancing its nuclear and missile development and military cooperation with Russia.
2025-04-03 18:48:00
Opposition party members on a special committee in the House of Representatives met to discuss the handling of corporate and group donations, and agreed that a conference between the ruling and opposition parties should be held as soon as possible to advance the discussion.
2025-04-03 18:02:00
An event was held at the Liberal Democratic Party headquarters to build momentum for the Osaka-Kansai Expo, which is due to open on the 13th of this month, and Prime Minister Ishiba emphasized his intention for the government and ruling parties to work together to ensure the expo's success.
2025-04-03 18:00:00
Regarding the tariff measures imposed by the Trump administration in the United States, Prime Minister Ishiba instructed Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Muto and other relevant cabinet ministers to carefully examine the content of the measures, analyze their impact, and strongly urge them to continue reviewing them. He also instructed them to take all possible measures to support corporate financing while taking into account the impact on domestic industry and employment.
2025-04-03 17:58:00
Prime Minister Ishiba addressed the new national civil servants, saying that politicians and civil servants alike want to make Japan a better country, and called on them to work together for the people.
2025-04-03 17:34:00
Regarding the bill to introduce "active cyber defense" to prevent cyber attacks, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan has put together an amendment to strengthen the involvement of the Diet. Adjustments are being made to submit the bill jointly with the Liberal Democratic Party and others, and the bill is expected to pass the House of Representatives as early as next week.
2025-04-03 17:00:00
Former Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Nishimura, a member of the former Abe faction, whose one-year suspension from party membership is set to expire in three days over the LDP faction's political funding issue, made a statement saying, "I will return to my roots and work humbly, making use of my experience to develop policies with my colleagues."
2025-04-03 16:38:00
The House of Representatives' Constitutional Review Committee held a debate on the nature of advertising during national referendums, with both the ruling and opposition parties pointing out that internet advertising could influence voters' rational judgment, and that measures such as the formulation of guidelines were necessary.
2025-04-03 15:41:00
A meeting was held by the LDP's Political Reform Headquarters to discuss the handling of donations from companies and organizations. A proposal agreed upon by the three parties, Komeito, the Democratic Party for the People, and the Democratic Party for the People, which would allow party branches that submit income and expenditure reports online to accept donations, was explained and no objections were raised.
2025-04-03 15:24:00
Regarding U.S. President Trump's announcement that he would impose a 24% tariff on Japan as a "reciprocal tariff," Prime Minister Ishiba told reporters that it was extremely disappointing and unwilling to do so, and that he would examine the impact on domestic industry and provide full support to companies.
2025-04-03 14:50:00
"We have called for a review of the unilateral tariff measures at various levels, but it is extremely regrettable and unintended that the measures have been implemented despite this," Prime Minister Ishiba told reporters at the Prime Minister's Office.
2025-04-03 14:04:00
Following President Trump's announcement that he would impose a 24% tariff on Japan as a "reciprocal tariff," Prime Minister Ishiba held a meeting with senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry to discuss how to respond. It appears that the Prime Minister confirmed his intention to thoroughly examine the impact on domestic industry and take all necessary measures.
2025-04-03 12:08:00
Following President Trump's announcement that he would impose a 24% tariff on Japan as a "reciprocal tariff," Prime Minister Ishiba held a meeting with senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry to discuss how to respond. It appears that the Prime Minister confirmed his intention to thoroughly examine the impact on domestic industry and take all necessary measures.
2025-04-03 11:33:00
University and high school students attended a meeting of the Liberal Democratic Party's working group to consider lowering the age at which people can run for election, and called for the age to be lowered to 18 or above, the same as the voting age, in order to increase young people's interest in politics.
2025-04-03 10:28:00
(Prime Minister Ishiba's Activities April 2, 2025)
2025-04-03 05:18:00
The Liberal Democratic Party and the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan have begun discussions regarding the tariff measures imposed by the Trump administration in the United States. They will assess the impact on domestic industry and ask the government to take necessary measures.
2025-04-03 03:12:00
Will the announcement of the "reciprocal tariffs" be America's "Liberation Day" as President Trump says? How should the world and Japan respond? We spoke to a former diplomat who once fought on the front lines of the Japan-US trade friction ahead of the President's speech. (News Watch 9 Reporting Team)
2025-04-03 01:30:00
Former LDP Prime Minister Kishida and former General Affairs Chairman Endo met in Tokyo on the evening of the 2nd and agreed that, with the approval rating of the Ishiba Cabinet slumping, it is important for the party to unite around the current executive committee in preparation for the House of Councillors election in the summer.
