Kamiya Sohei was re-elected as the leader of the Democratic Party of Japan.
2025-05-09 21:35:00
The votes for the Democratic Party's leadership election were counted on the evening of the 9th, and Kamiya Sobei was re-elected.
Political News(2025/05/09)
Draft Defense White Paper: Concerns over China's increasing military activity as "biggest strategic challenge"
2025-05-09 21:24:00
The draft of this year's Defense White Paper has been made public, expressing strong concern about China's increased military activity, including the violation of Japanese airspace by military aircraft last year, describing it as "the biggest strategic challenge ever."
LDP Policy Research Council Chairman Onodera: "Time-specific measures are also needed to lower the consumption tax"
2025-05-09 21:03:00
LDP Policy Research Council Chairman Onodera revealed that the party will begin a study group on the consumption tax as early as next week, but pointed out that even if the tax were to be lowered, it would take time to implement, and that other measures should be considered to combat high prices.
"National debt" hits record high of over 1,323 trillion yen, financial situation becomes even more severe
2025-05-09 20:47:00
Government debt, which includes government bonds and borrowings, or the so-called "national debt," reached a record high of over 1,323 trillion yen as of the end of March this year, making the fiscal situation even more severe.
The bill to raise teacher salaries will be voted on by committee on the 14th
2025-05-09 19:43:00
The ruling and opposition parties have agreed to hold a committee vote on the proposed amendments to the law to raise teacher salary surcharges on the 14th of next week. The bill is expected to pass the House of Representatives within the coming week after being amended to include a reduction target for teachers' overtime work.
The bill to make the Science Council of Japan an independent corporation from the government passed by the House of Representatives Cabinet Committee
2025-05-09 18:30:00
The bill to make the Science Council of Japan an independent corporation was put to a vote in the House of Representatives Cabinet Committee and passed with a majority in favor from the Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito Party, and Japan Restoration Party. It is expected to be passed in the plenary session next week and sent to the House of Councillors.
LDP lawmaker Nishida apologizes and retracts comments about Himeyuri Monument, saying they were inappropriate
2025-05-09 18:00:00
Liberal Democratic Party Senator Masashi Nishida has apologized for his inappropriate remarks regarding the explanation of the Himeyuri Monument, which commemorates the female students who died in the Battle of Okinawa, and has indicated his intention to retract them.
Prime Minister Ishiba completely denies weekly magazine reports regarding political funds
2025-05-09 17:33:00
Prime Minister Ishiba once again completely denied at the House of Representatives Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Committee a weekly magazine report that he was suspected of not reporting part of his income from party tickets in his political funding report, saying, "There is no such fact."
LDP approves amendments to Postal Privatization Act and related laws, to be submitted to the current Diet session
2025-05-09 17:29:00
The joint meeting of the Liberal Democratic Party's "Special Committee on Postal Services" and other groups approved a bill to amend the Postal Privatization Act and related laws, aiming to submit it to the current Diet session as a private member's bill. The bill includes measures such as adding counter services for local governments to Japan Post's core business, and expanding subsidies to maintain the post office network.
LDP-Komeito tax reform talks: Discussions continue on funding for abolishing the provisional gasoline tax rate
2025-05-09 17:23:00
Tax policy discussions were held between the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito Party and the Japan Restoration Party, with the party proposing to use excess tax revenues as a temporary source of funds to abolish the provisional gasoline tax rate by this summer, and the ruling party indicated its intention to take the proposal back and consider it.
Ruling and opposition parties confirm early amendments to strengthen measures against online casinos
2025-05-09 17:22:00
The ruling and opposition parties held working-level talks to strengthen measures against online casinos, and confirmed that they will aim for early legal reform with an eye on the current Diet session. The outline of a proposed amendment compiled by the ruling party and the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, which includes a ban on the establishment of casino sites, was also presented, and discussions will proceed.
CDP leader Noda: "Issuing government bonds is problematic" as source of funds for lowering consumption tax rate
2025-05-09 16:31:00
Regarding the source of funds for lowering the consumption tax rate, Constitutional Democratic Party leader Noda, keeping in mind that the Democratic Party for the People and others have called for consideration of options including the issuance of government bonds, expressed the view that this is a problematic approach that will affect future generations.
The LDP and CDP agree to hold intensive deliberations at the House of Councillors Budget Committee on the 19th, with Prime Minister Ishiba also in attendance.
2025-05-09 15:53:00
The Liberal Democratic Party and the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan's House of Councillors Diet Affairs Committee chairmen met and agreed to invite Prime Minister Ishiba to attend on the 19th of this month and hold intensive discussions in the House of Councillors Budget Committee.
LDP lawmaker Nishida apologizes and retracts comments about Himeyuri Monument, saying they were inappropriate
2025-05-09 15:13:00
Liberal Democratic Party Senator Masashi Nishida has apologized for his inappropriate remarks regarding the explanation of the Himeyuri Monument, which commemorates the female students who died in the Battle of Okinawa, and has indicated his intention to retract them.
Komeito leader Saito considers lowering tax rate as core of party economic measures
2025-05-09 13:25:00
Regarding the economic measures that the Komeito Party will put together in the future, Chairman Saito stated that tax cuts will be positioned as a core element, and indicated that the items under consideration will also include a reduction in the reduced consumption tax rate on food items, etc.
LDP lawmaker Nishida plans to retract remarks made regarding explanation of Himeyuri Monument
2025-05-09 13:16:00
Liberal Democratic Party Senator Masashi Nishida has indicated he intends to retract his remarks regarding the explanation of the Himeyuri Tower, which commemorates the female students who died in the Battle of Okinawa, saying that they were inappropriate and lacked a thorough explanation.
Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction to be held in Sendai in 2027, the first time in Japan
2025-05-09 12:35:00
A United Nations conference where ministers from countries in the Asia-Pacific region will discuss strengthening disaster prevention measures will be held in Sendai in the year after next, and Minister of Disaster Management Sakai expressed his desire to use the conference as an opportunity to publicize efforts to rebuild from earthquakes, including the Great East Japan Earthquake.
Political funding issue: LDP and CDP continue discussions on summoning Shimomura as witness
2025-05-09 12:23:00
The Diet Affairs Committee chairmen of the Liberal Democratic Party and the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan met to discuss the issue of factional political funding. The Constitutional Democratic Party repeatedly called for the summoning of former Policy Research Council Chairman Shimomura, a former senior member of the Abe faction, as a reference person, but the Liberal Democratic Party expressed opposition, and it was decided that discussions would continue.
Secretary of House of Councillors sexually assaulted female journalist; government ordered to pay compensation
2025-05-09 12:03:00
The Tokyo District Court has ordered the government to pay 4.4 million yen in damages to Senator Seiji Ueda's public secretary for sexually assaulting a female reporter for a news organization. The government has not appealed, and the ruling has been finalized.
Government responds to ruling and opposition parties' proposal to lower consumption tax rate: "It is an important source of revenue and inappropriate"
2025-05-09 11:51:00
At a press conference after the Cabinet meeting on the 9th, Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato expressed his negative view on the reduction of the consumption tax rate, which has been proposed by both the ruling and opposition parties, saying, "The consumption tax is an important source of revenue supporting the social security system, so reducing the tax rate is not appropriate."
North Korea's irregular trajectory missile "estimated to be the same type as the one launched in September of last year" - Defense Minister
2025-05-09 11:41:00
Regarding North Korea's launch of multiple ballistic missiles on the 8th, Defense Minister Nakatani revealed that one of the missiles, which may have flown on an "irregular trajectory," is believed to be the same type as the short-range ballistic missile launched in September of last year.
Finance Minister Kato says ruling and opposition parties' proposal to lower consumption tax rate is "inappropriate"
2025-05-09 10:46:00
At a press conference after the Cabinet meeting on the 9th, Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato expressed his negative view on the reduction of the consumption tax rate, which has been proposed by both the ruling and opposition parties, saying, "The consumption tax is an important source of revenue supporting the social security system, so reducing the tax rate is not appropriate."
Finance Minister Kato: "We will work with industry groups to tackle securities account hijacking issue"
2025-05-09 10:27:00
Regarding the recent spate of cases in which securities accounts have been hijacked and stocks and other transactions carried out without the person's knowledge, Minister of Financial Services Kato stated at a press conference after the Cabinet meeting on the 9th that he intends to work with industry groups to implement measures to prevent the damage from spreading any further.
Prime Minister Ishiba's Activities May 8, 2025
2025-05-09 09:54:00
(Prime Minister Ishiba's Activities May 8, 2025)
LDP Secretary-General Moriyama plans to hold study session on consumption tax, raising concerns within the party
2025-05-09 05:18:00
Regarding the handling of the consumption tax, some LDP lawmakers have proposed setting the reduced tax rate on food and other items at zero percent, and Secretary-General Moriyama has announced his intention to hold a study group on the consumption tax. There are concerns within the party that holding such a study group could highlight differences in positions on tax cuts.
