Political News(2025/05/14)
Prime Minister Ishiba to meet with Paraguayan President to discuss upgrading relations between the two countries
2025-05-14 22:36:00
Prime Minister Ishiba will meet with Paraguayan President Peña next week to discuss upgrading the relationship between the two countries to a "strategic partnership." Paraguay is the only South American country that has diplomatic relations with Taiwan, and the government hopes to gain his understanding of the situation in East Asia, where China is strengthening its hegemonic moves.
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Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Akazawa: "We will analyze the situation in the U.S. and put all our efforts into the negotiations" in tariff negotiations
2025-05-14 21:26:00
Regarding the tariff measures imposed by the Trump administration in the United States, Minister for Economic Revitalization Akazawa emphasized his intention to analyze the domestic situation and areas of interest of the United States and to approach the negotiations strategically, making every effort to ensure that Japan obtains maximum benefits.
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Government puts together 60 trillion yen investment plan over five years to raise wages for small and medium-sized businesses
2025-05-14 20:51:00
The government has drawn up a plan to make public-private investments over five years to increase productivity by 60 trillion yen in order to create an environment in which small and medium-sized enterprises and other businesses can raise wages.
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About 60 people attend LDP "Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy Headquarters" meeting
2025-05-14 20:32:00
A meeting of the Liberal Democratic Party's Strategy Headquarters was held to consider specific measures to inherit and develop the "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" concept advocated by former Prime Minister Abe. Approximately 60 people attended, including former Minister of Economic Security Takaichi, who ran against Prime Minister Ishiba in last year's party presidential election.
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Measures to improve distribution of stockpiled rice discussed at LDP Agriculture and Forestry Division and other executive meetings
2025-05-14 19:18:00
As rice prices continue to rise, the Liberal Democratic Party held a meeting of its Agriculture and Forestry Committee and other executives on the 14th to exchange opinions on measures to improve the distribution of stockpiled rice.
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Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Akazawa: "We will analyze the situation in the U.S. and put all our efforts into the negotiations"
2025-05-14 19:05:00
Regarding the tariff measures imposed by the Trump administration, Minister for Economic Revitalization Akazawa emphasized his intention to analyze the domestic situation and areas of interest of the United States and to approach the negotiations strategically, making every effort to ensure that Japan obtains maximum benefits.
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"Prices should be controlled by relaxing the requirements for buying back stockpiled rice," says LDP Policy Research Council Chairman Onodera
2025-05-14 18:53:00
In response to the fact that rice prices have remained high even after the government released its stockpiles, LDP Policy Research Council Chairman Onodera expressed his intention to urge the government to take steps to curb prices, including by relaxing the requirements for buying back stockpiled rice.
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LDP's Takaichi: "A reduced food tax rate of zero percent should be discussed within the party"
2025-05-14 18:40:00
Regarding the handling of the consumption tax, former Minister of Economic Security of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takaichi, pointed out that "Japan is not a country that is short of financial means." He also expressed the view that the party should discuss lowering the reduced tax rate on food to zero percent.
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Russia to conduct firing drills in waters around the Northern Territories from the 15th onwards, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi protests
2025-05-14 18:31:00
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi said at a press conference that Russia had issued a navigation warning after it announced it would be conducting firing exercises in the waters around the Northern Territories from the 15th (Japan time) onwards, and that Japan had protested against this, saying it was contrary to its position and unacceptable.
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Ishin no Maehara: "Tax cuts can be funded by the increase in overall tax revenues"
2025-05-14 16:50:00
Regarding the handling of the consumption tax, Japan Restoration Party co-leader Maehara expressed the view that the party's proposal to abolish the consumption tax on food would be limited to a period of around two years, and that the funds could be provided from an increase in overall tax revenue.
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Social Democratic Party leader Fukushima: "I want to reduce the consumption tax rate on food products"
2025-05-14 16:48:00
As prices continue to rise, Social Democratic Party leader Fukushima has cited serious food price hikes and expressed his desire to work with other parties to achieve a reduction in the consumption tax rate on food items.
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Cross-party group puts together bill to amend law to combat slander against athletes
2025-05-14 16:20:00
In order to prevent slander against athletes on social media and other platforms, a bipartisan group of lawmakers has put together a proposed amendment to the law that includes provisions to strengthen measures against such attacks.
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Democratic Party for the People accepts resignation of House of Representatives member Masaki Hiraiwa for adultery under false name
2025-05-14 16:15:00
At a general meeting of both houses of the Diet on the 14th, the Democratic Party for the People decided to accept the resignation of House of Representatives member Masaki Hiraiwa, who revealed that he had been engaged in an extramarital affair under a false name.
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Government committee broadly approves plan to make childbirth free of charge; scope and methods to be considered
2025-05-14 14:56:00
The government's expert panel, which is discussing the nature of childbirth costs as part of measures to combat the declining birthrate, has broadly approved a summary proposal calling for the creation of a specific system for making childbirth free of charge by next fiscal year. In response to this, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare will continue to consider the scope and methods of making childbirth free of charge.
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Pension Bill: Shigenori Shigenori, Chairman of the Policy Research Council of the Democratic Party of Japan, "We call for measures to be taken for the generation that suffered from the employment ice age"
2025-05-14 14:01:00
Regarding pension system reform, Shigenori Shigenori, Chairman of the Constitutional Democratic Party's Policy Research Council, criticized the fact that the related bill that the government will soon submit does not include any provisions to raise basic pensions to support the so-called "employment ice age" generation, and indicated his intention to seek amendments to the bill.
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Political funding issue: Former Policy Research Council Chairman Shimomura intends to accept if bid approved
2025-05-14 13:49:00
Regarding the faction's political funding issue, the opposition parties are calling for former Policy Research Council Chairman Shimomura, a former senior member of the LDP's former Abe faction, to be summoned as an expert witness to the House of Representatives Budget Committee. He has indicated his intention to comply if the request is approved.
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Acting Representative of the People's Party, Furukawa: "The source of funds for the consumption tax cut will come from the increase in tax revenues, etc."
2025-05-14 13:24:00
Regarding the treatment of the consumption tax, Deputy Leader of the Democratic Party for the People, Furukawa, stated that the tax rate should be lowered until wage increases exceed the rate of inflation, and indicated that the necessary financial resources would come from the increase in overall tax revenue, the issuance of government bonds, and surpluses from special accounts, among other things.
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Revised Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Act passed; government establishes fund to strengthen new drug development capabilities
2025-05-14 13:23:00
As "drug waste," which occurs when drugs available overseas are not available in Japan, becomes an issue, the House of Councilors passed and enacted a revised Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Act on the 14th, which includes provisions for the government to create a new fund to strengthen the country's ability to develop new drugs.
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Political funding issue: Former Policy Research Council Chairman Shimomura intends to accept if bid approved
2025-05-14 13:18:00
Regarding the faction's political funding issue, the opposition parties are calling for former Policy Research Council Chairman Shimomura, a former senior member of the LDP's former Abe faction, to be summoned as an expert witness to the House of Representatives Budget Committee. He has indicated his intention to comply if the request is approved.
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"Prices should be controlled by relaxing the requirements for buying back stockpiled rice," says LDP Policy Research Council Chairman Onodera
2025-05-14 12:19:00
In response to the fact that rice prices have remained high even after the government released its stockpiles, LDP Policy Research Council Chairman Onodera expressed his intention to urge the government to take steps to curb prices, including by relaxing the requirements for buying back stockpiled rice.
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The House of Representatives Education Committee passed a bill to amend the "Special Salary Law" to raise teacher salaries
2025-05-14 11:32:00
The bill to amend the law to raise teacher salary surcharges was amended to include a target for reducing teachers' overtime work, and passed by a majority in the House of Representatives Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Committee. The bill is expected to be passed by a plenary session on the 15th and sent to the House of Councillors.
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Prime Minister Ishiba's Activities May 13, 2025
2025-05-14 09:49:00
(Prime Minister Ishiba's Activities May 13, 2025)
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Ruling party to consider supplementary budget plan for autumn; opposition criticizes, lively debate afoot
2025-05-14 06:18:00
In order to take economic measures in response to rising prices and other factors, the ruling party plans to consider formulating a supplementary budget bill in preparation for the extraordinary Diet session in the fall after the House of Councillors election. The opposition parties have criticized the government for being slow to act, and discussions on economic measures, including how to handle the consumption tax, are becoming lively with an eye on the election.
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Pension reform bill to be submitted, opposition parties calling for amendments
2025-05-14 05:45:00
The bill on pension system reform, which the government and the Liberal Democratic Party have been struggling to agree on, is expected to be submitted to the Diet on the 16th of this week. The opposition parties have called for amendments, arguing that the bill does not include measures to raise the basic pension level, and this is expected to become a point of contention in future deliberations.
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