Political News(2025/04/16)
Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly member apologizes at committee for failing to report LDP party-related income
2025-04-16 21:50:00
In response to the issue surrounding the political fundraising party held by the "Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly Liberal Democratic Party," the then secretary-general of the LDP faction appeared as an expert witness before a Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly committee and apologized, saying, "We were not aware of any illegality and would like to apologize for allowing this situation to occur."
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Communist Party urgently proposes lowering consumption tax rate to 5% and supporting wage increases for small and medium-sized businesses
2025-04-16 20:07:00
In response to rising prices and US tariff measures, the Communist Party has drawn up urgent proposals, stating that drastic measures are needed to protect the lives of the people, including lowering the consumption tax rate to a flat 5% and supporting wage increases for small and medium-sized enterprises.
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CDP members to propose lowering consumption tax rate to 5%
2025-04-16 20:06:00
Regarding the handling of the consumption tax, a study group made up of volunteer members of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan will soon compile recommendations, including lowering the tax rate to 5% for the time being, and submit them to the executive branch.
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"Trump tariffs" first Japan-US negotiations to begin tomorrow morning Japan time
2025-04-16 19:58:00
Regarding the tariff measures of the Trump administration, Minister of Economic Revitalization Akazawa arrived in Washington on the night of the 16th and will take part in the first Japan-US negotiations on the morning of the 17th. He will strongly urge a review of the measures, and will listen to the US demands and identify areas of negotiation that will not harm Japan's national interests. Meanwhile, President Trump posted on his social media on the morning of the 16th, "Japan will be visiting the US today to negotiate on tariffs, trade fairness, etc. I will be attending the meeting with the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Commerce," expressing his hope that the negotiations will go well for both Japan and the US.
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Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly member apologizes at committee for failing to report LDP party-related income
2025-04-16 19:43:00
In response to the issue surrounding the political fundraising party held by the "Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly Liberal Democratic Party," the then secretary-general of the LDP faction appeared as an expert witness before a Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly committee and apologized, saying, "We were not aware of any illegality and would like to apologize for allowing this situation to occur."
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Social Democratic Party outlines pledges for House of Councillors election: "Abolish consumption tax on food"
2025-04-16 19:33:00
The Social Democratic Party has outlined the main points of its campaign pledges for the upcoming House of Councillors election this summer. In order to protect people's lives from rising prices, the pledges include immediately eliminating the consumption tax on food products and expediting the design of a "guaranteed minimum pension" system that would pay 100,000 yen per month.
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"Trump tariffs" first Japan-US negotiations to begin tomorrow morning Japan time
2025-04-16 17:55:00
Regarding the tariff measures taken by the Trump administration, Minister for Economic Revitalization Akazawa arrived in Washington on the evening of the 16th and will attend his first Japan-US negotiations on the morning of the 17th. He will strongly call for a review of the measures, and will listen to the demands of the US side, hoping to identify areas for negotiation that will not harm Japan's national interests.
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Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare: Pension reform bill will not include measures to raise basic pensions
2025-04-16 16:31:00
Regarding the pension system reform bill, whose submission to the Diet has been postponed, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has decided not to include in the bill a measure to boost basic pensions by using employee pension reserves, which it had been considering as one of the pillars of the reform, as it believes that this measure would not gain widespread support.
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"Trump tariffs" first Japan-US negotiations to begin tomorrow morning Japan time
2025-04-16 16:19:00
Regarding the tariff measures taken by the Trump administration, Minister for Economic Revitalization Akazawa arrived in Washington on the evening of the 16th and will attend his first Japan-US negotiations on the morning of the 17th. He will strongly call for a review of the measures, and will listen to the demands of the US side, hoping to identify areas for negotiation that will not harm Japan's national interests.
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Political funding issue: House of Councillors Ethics Committee to hold hearing on former Abe faction chairman Yamazaki on 18th
2025-04-16 16:11:00
Regarding the political funding issue of the Liberal Democratic Party faction, the House of Councillors Political Ethics Committee will hold an examination of former Speaker Masaaki Yamazaki of the former Abe faction on the 18th. This will mark the completion of the defense and questioning of all 52 people who applied to appear before the House of Representatives and House of Councillors examination committees.
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"Trump tariffs" first Japan-US negotiations to begin tomorrow morning Japan time
2025-04-16 15:56:00
Regarding the tariff measures taken by the Trump administration, Minister for Economic Revitalization Akazawa arrived in Washington on the evening of the 16th and will attend his first Japan-US negotiations on the morning of the 17th. He will strongly call for a review of the measures, and will listen to the demands of the US side, hoping to identify areas for negotiation that will not harm Japan's national interests.
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Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi reiterates that he will not consider a supplementary budget to combat rising prices
2025-04-16 15:28:00
Regarding measures to combat high prices, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi stated that the government would respond by mobilizing all of the policies included in last year's supplementary budget and this year's budget, such as subsidies for low-income households, and reiterated that at this point in time, the government is not considering compiling a supplementary budget proposal.
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Former US Ambassador to the US: How to approach US-Japan negotiations over tariffs and key points
2025-04-16 15:25:00
Negotiations between Japan and the United States will be held in Washington on the 17th (Japan time) regarding the tariff measures of the Trump administration. How should Japan approach this? We spoke to Shinsuke Sugiyama, who served as the ambassador to the United States during the first term of the Trump administration. (News Watch 9 reporting team)
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House of Representatives Health, Labor and Welfare Committee calls for patient participation in council regarding review of high-cost medical care system
2025-04-16 15:18:00
Regarding the review of the "High-Cost Medical Care System," the House of Representatives Health, Labor and Welfare Committee unanimously passed a resolution requesting the government to allow patients to participate as members of the council that will review the system.
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Economic Revitalization Minister Akazawa departs for the US for first negotiations on "Trump tariffs"
2025-04-16 14:43:00
Minister of State for Economic Revitalization Akazawa departed from Haneda Airport on the morning of the 16th to attend the first negotiations regarding the tariff measures of the Trump administration in the United States. Prior to the departure, he told reporters that he wanted to build a relationship of trust with the other side and conduct negotiations that would benefit both countries' national interests.
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Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi reiterates that he will not consider a supplementary budget to combat rising prices
2025-04-16 13:01:00
Regarding measures to combat high prices, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi stated that the government would respond by mobilizing all of the policies included in last year's supplementary budget and this year's budget, such as subsidies for low-income households, and reiterated that at this point in time, the government is not considering compiling a supplementary budget proposal.
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Economic Revitalization Minister Akazawa departs for the US for first negotiations on "Trump tariffs"
2025-04-16 12:43:00
Minister of State for Economic Revitalization Akazawa departed from Haneda Airport on the morning of the 16th to attend the first negotiations regarding the tariff measures of the Trump administration in the United States. Prior to the departure, he told reporters that he wanted to build a relationship of trust with the other side and conduct negotiations that would benefit both countries' national interests.
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Economic Revitalization Minister Akazawa departs for the US for first negotiations on "Trump tariffs"
2025-04-16 11:26:00
Minister of State for Economic Revitalization Akazawa departed from Haneda Airport on the morning of the 16th to attend the first negotiations regarding the tariff measures of the Trump administration in the United States. Prior to the departure, he told reporters that he wanted to build a relationship of trust with the other side and conduct negotiations that would benefit both countries' national interests.
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Economic Revitalization Minister Akazawa departs for the US for first negotiations on "Trump tariffs"
2025-04-16 11:06:00
Minister of State for Economic Revitalization Akazawa departed from Haneda Airport on the morning of the 16th to attend the first negotiations regarding the tariff measures of the Trump administration in the United States. Prior to the departure, he told reporters that he wanted to build a relationship of trust with the other side and conduct negotiations that would benefit both countries' national interests.
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LDP and Komeito consider resuming subsidies for electricity and gas fees from June to August as a measure to combat rising prices
2025-04-16 05:56:00
Regarding measures to combat high prices, the Liberal Democratic Party and the Komeito Party plan to lower gasoline prices through the implementation of this year's budget, as well as resume subsidies for electricity and gas fees, and work to curb energy prices. On the other hand, a senior LDP official indicated on the night of the 15th that there is no need to compile a new supplementary budget in the current Diet session.
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Economic Revitalization Minister Akazawa visits the US today for Japan-US negotiations over tariff measures
2025-04-16 05:44:00
On the 16th, Minister of State for Economic Revitalization Akazawa will depart Japan for his first negotiations in Washington regarding the tariff measures of the Trump administration. He will explain that Japan is contributing to the economy and employment through huge investments and strongly urge a review of the measures. He also plans to listen to the requests of the US side and identify areas for negotiation that will not damage Japan's national interests.
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LDP executives postpone drafting new supplementary budget over price hike measures
2025-04-16 00:28:00
Regarding measures to combat high prices, LDP officials indicated they would hold off on drafting a new supplementary budget, saying they would instead work to curb energy prices through the implementation of this year's budget.
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