2025-05-08 23:55:00
On the evening of the 8th, Prime Minister Ishiba met with LDP Secretary-General Moriyama and exchanged views on the situation regarding the House of Councillors election this summer.
2025-05-08 21:48:00
In preparation for this summer's House of Councillors election, the Democratic Party for the People has put together a draft of its campaign pledges, which include a temporary reduction in the consumption tax rate to a uniform 5%.
2025-05-08 20:42:00
In response to the tariff measures imposed by the Trump administration in the United States, a meeting of the Komeito task force was held, with attendees calling for steady progress in negotiations toward the elimination of all measures, including those on automobiles, steel, and other products.
2025-05-08 20:39:00
Prime Minister Ishiba spoke by telephone with Australian Prime Minister Albanese, and confirmed that the environment surrounding the region is becoming increasingly severe, including North Korea's ballistic missile launches, and that the two countries will continue to cooperate closely in a wide range of areas, including security.
2025-05-08 20:35:00
A council of ruling and opposition parties was held to discuss the nature of election campaigns, and heard from social media operators about their systems for checking false information on social media, and it was decided that concrete measures would be considered in the future.
2025-05-08 20:34:00
Regarding the soaring price of rice, Prime Minister Ishiba pointed out that rice remains difficult to obtain in urban areas, raising concerns that consumers will turn away from rice, and emphasized his intention to take measures to curb prices with swiftness and a sense of urgency.
2025-05-08 20:01:00
Following its decision to include in its campaign pledges for the House of Councillors election a reduction in the consumption tax rate on food items to 0%, in principle for one year only, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan held its first meeting of a working group to consider the design of the system, and confirmed that it will expedite its deliberations in order to compile concrete measures, including the necessary financial resources, as early as next week.
2025-05-08 19:45:00
Prime Minister Ishiba categorically denied a weekly magazine report that he was suspected of not reporting part of his party ticket income in his political funding report, saying, "There is absolutely no truth to that."
2025-05-08 18:59:00
Ahead of the House of Councillors election this summer, the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito are planning to consider new economic measures. While Komeito is calling for tax cuts and subsidies to be included, there are cautious opinions within the LDP, and adjustments are expected to be made in the future.
2025-05-08 18:56:00
In response to LDP Senator Nishida Masashi's comment that "this is what happens when you rewrite history" in regards to the explanation of the Himeyuri Monument, which commemorates the souls of female students who died in the Battle of Okinawa, Constitutional Democratic Party leader Noda said, "That comment offends the feelings of the people of Okinawa Prefecture," and expressed the view that it should be corrected.
2025-05-08 18:13:00
AI engineer Takahiro Yasuno, who received the fifth-highest number of votes in last year's Tokyo gubernatorial election, held a press conference and announced that he has established a new political organization for this summer's House of Councillors election. He will field more than 10 candidates and will run himself as a proportional representative candidate.
2025-05-08 18:10:00
Prime Minister Ishiba categorically denied a weekly magazine report that he was suspected of not reporting part of his party ticket income in his political funding report, saying, "There is absolutely no truth to that."
2025-05-08 16:47:00
At a House of Representatives Constitutional Review Committee meeting, the issue of restricting the power to dissolve the Diet was discussed. The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan argued that arbitrary dissolution should be restricted by law, while the Liberal Democratic Party expressed the view that caution should be exercised in restricting the opportunity for political decision-making in advance by law.
2025-05-08 15:59:00
The bill to amend the law to increase teacher salaries is expected to be amended in the House of Representatives at the request of the opposition parties. Adjustments are being made to include in the supplementary provisions a reduction target for teacher overtime work and measures to be taken to realize a 35-student class size in junior high schools.
2025-05-08 14:18:00
In response to LDP Senator Nishida Masashi's comment that "this is what happens when you rewrite history" in regards to the explanation of the Himeyuri Monument, which commemorates the souls of female students who died in the Battle of Okinawa, Constitutional Democratic Party leader Noda said, "That comment offends the feelings of the people of Okinawa Prefecture," and expressed the view that it should be corrected.
2025-05-08 13:53:00
Regarding the consumption tax, a group of Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers have proposed to Secretary-General Moriyama that the reduced tax rate on food and other items be permanently set to zero percent, taking into account rising prices. Moriyama indicated his intention to set up a forum to discuss the consumption tax at the party's tax system research committee.
2025-05-08 13:22:00
Regarding the issue of political funding within the Liberal Democratic Party factions, at a meeting of the House of Representatives Budget Committee directors, the opposition parties demanded that former Abe faction leader and former Chairman of the Policy Research Council Shimomura be called as an expert witness. However, the Liberal Democratic Party insisted that this was not necessary, as an explanation had already been given, and it was decided that discussions would continue.
2025-05-08 13:16:00
Regarding a weekly magazine report that Prime Minister Ishiba is suspected of not reporting some of his party ticket income in his political funds income and expenditure report, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi explained that Prime Minister Ishiba's office responded to the weekly magazine's interview by saying that political funds are handled appropriately in accordance with laws and regulations and that income and expenditures are reported accordingly.
2025-05-08 09:21:00
(Prime Minister Ishiba's Activities May 7, 2025)
2025-05-08 05:58:00
Ahead of the House of Councillors election this summer, the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito are planning to consider new economic measures. While Komeito is calling for tax cuts and subsidies to be included, there are cautious opinions within the LDP, and adjustments are expected to be made in the future.
2025-05-08 05:27:00
Regarding the Trump administration's tariff measures, the government has taken note of the increased activity in discussions between the United States and China and other countries and is gathering information to see whether there are any points that can be utilized in the next Japan-U.S. negotiations.
