2025-05-13 22:35:00
On the evening of the 13th, Foreign Minister Iwaki held talks with the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), who was visiting Japan, and the two leaders agreed to work closely together to strengthen a free and open multilateral trading system, amid growing concern over protectionist policies in the wake of the U.S. tariff measures.
2025-05-13 21:56:00
Foreign Minister Iwaki met with Israeli Foreign Minister Saar, who is visiting Japan, and expressed serious concerns about the devastating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, and strongly urged the continuation of the ceasefire agreement and the implementation of humanitarian assistance.
2025-05-13 20:39:00
The minutes of a meeting held last month between the Speaker and Vice Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Representatives of the House of Councillors and representatives of each political party to discuss how to ensure a stable succession to the throne have been made public, in which the Liberal Democratic Party expressed the view that the proposal to adopt male descendants of former imperial family members in the male line should be limited to men aged 15 or over.
2025-05-13 19:55:00
On the 13th, the director of the Himeyuri Peace Memorial Museum, who attended a prefectural assembly study session, criticized LDP Senator Nishida Masashi for apologizing and retracting his own remarks regarding the explanation of the Himeyuri Tower, which commemorates the souls of female students who died in the Battle of Okinawa, saying that "in essence, he has not retracted his remarks."
2025-05-13 19:42:00
Regarding the handling of the consumption tax, Japanese Conservative Party leader Momota stated at a press conference that he believes the tax rate on food should be permanently set at zero percent in order to reduce the burden on people's lives caused by rising prices.
2025-05-13 17:44:00
Regarding the handling of the consumption tax, Democratic Party for the People leader Tamaki stated that amid continuing high prices, the tax rate should be temporarily lowered to a flat 5%, but indicated that he would like to decide the duration of the tax cut based on the economic situation.
2025-05-13 17:35:00
A bill to make the Science Council of Japan an independent corporation from the state was passed by a majority vote in the House of Representatives with support from the Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito Party, Japan Restoration Party, and others, and was sent to the House of Councillors.
2025-05-13 17:27:00
The secretaries-general of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito met and agreed that in order to implement economic measures in response to rising prices and the U.S. tariff measures, it is necessary to draw up a supplementary budget bill for this fiscal year in preparation for the extraordinary Diet session to be held in the fall after the House of Councillors election.
2025-05-13 16:52:00
The Liberal Democratic Party's investigative committee has compiled recommendations to the government to strengthen security measures. The committee calls for the government to consider establishing laws to prevent espionage, arguing that Japan's measures against espionage are insufficient compared to other countries.
2025-05-13 16:50:00
A bill to make the Science Council of Japan an independent corporation from the state was passed by a majority vote in the House of Representatives with support from the Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito Party, Japan Restoration Party, and others, and was sent to the House of Councillors.
2025-05-13 15:43:00
A bill to make the Science Council of Japan an independent corporation from the state was passed by a majority vote in the House of Representatives with support from the Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito Party, Japan Restoration Party, and others, and was sent to the House of Councillors.
2025-05-13 15:25:00
The pension system reform bill, which has been postponed until the Diet, was approved at the Liberal Democratic Party's General Affairs Committee on the 13th. The government plans to make a cabinet decision on the bill within this week and submit it to the Diet.
2025-05-13 15:19:00
Regarding the Northern Territories issue, Prime Minister Ishiba met with Hokkaido Governor Suzuki and others, and expressed his intention to urge Russia to resume the "Northern Territories Grave Visits" project, in which former islanders visit the graves of their ancestors, as a humanitarian issue.
2025-05-13 15:02:00
Regarding the tariff measures taken by the Trump administration in the United States, Prime Minister Ishiba stated at a government and ruling party liaison meeting that, as a measure for domestic industries, he intends to support businesses that are working to improve productivity and diversify their operations.
2025-05-13 14:26:00
The pension system reform bill, which has been postponed until the Diet, was approved at the Liberal Democratic Party's General Affairs Committee on the 13th. The government plans to make a cabinet decision on the bill within this week and submit it to the Diet.
2025-05-13 14:10:00
The secretaries-general of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito met and agreed that in order to implement economic measures in response to rising prices and the U.S. tariff measures, it is necessary to draw up a supplementary budget bill for this fiscal year in preparation for the extraordinary Diet session to be held in the fall after the House of Councillors election.
2025-05-13 13:52:00
Prime Minister Ishiba met with Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), who is visiting Japan, and agreed that tensions over international trade are rapidly increasing, with the U.S. tariff measures in mind, and that the WTO needs to regain its centripetal force.
2025-05-13 13:03:00
The pension system reform bill, which has been postponed until the Diet, was approved at the Liberal Democratic Party's General Affairs Committee on the 13th. The government plans to make a cabinet decision on the bill within this week and submit it to the Diet.
2025-05-13 12:17:00
The pension system reform bill, which has been postponed until the Diet, was approved at the Liberal Democratic Party's General Affairs Committee on the 13th. The government plans to make a cabinet decision on the bill within this week and submit it to the Diet.
2025-05-13 12:06:00
The New Capitalism Implementation Headquarters, chaired by former Liberal Democratic Party Prime Minister Kishida, has compiled recommendations to the government calling for raising official prices to improve working conditions for people working in the medical and nursing care industries, among other things, in response to rising prices.
2025-05-13 11:58:00
The secretaries-general of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito met and agreed that in order to implement economic measures in response to rising prices and the U.S. tariff measures, it is necessary to draw up a supplementary budget bill for this fiscal year in preparation for the extraordinary Diet session to be held in the fall after the House of Councillors election.
2025-05-13 11:53:00
Regarding the first drop in 18 weeks in the average price of rice sold at supermarkets nationwide, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Eto said, "We welcome this, but it is not at a level that consumers will be very impressed with," and revealed that he is considering measures to improve the distribution of cheap stockpiled rice.
2025-05-13 11:40:00
At a press conference following the Cabinet meeting on the 13th, Finance Minister Katsuyuki Kato revealed that he is currently making arrangements to meet with U.S. Treasury Secretary David Bessent to discuss currency and other issues in conjunction with the G7 finance ministers and central bank governors' meeting to be held in Canada next week.
2025-05-13 09:04:00
(Prime Minister Ishiba's Activities May 12, 2025)
2025-05-13 05:21:00
Regarding the tariff measures taken by the Trump administration, the US and Chinese governments have agreed to reduce the additional tariffs currently imposed on each other. The government will analyze the US strategy based on the contents of the agreement between the two countries and proceed with preparations for the third round of Japan-US negotiations.
2025-05-13 05:19:00
Regarding the treatment of the consumption tax as an economic measure in response to rising prices, there are strong opinions within the LDP, particularly among its executive members, who are cautious about lowering the tax rate, as it is a source of revenue for social security. In response, opposition parties such as the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan are calling for a reduction or abolition of the tax.
2025-05-13 05:01:00
When asked in an NHK poll whether they would refer to information on social media or video sites when choosing who to vote for in this summer's House of Councillors election, about 30% of people answered that they would "consider it." By age group, this was more prevalent among younger people, rising to 65% among those under 30.
