Political News(2025/05/20)
Agriculture Minister Eto's resignation is inevitable after he said he has never bought rice
2025-05-20 23:40:00
At a press conference after the Cabinet meeting on the 20th, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Eto commented on his own remarks, "I have never bought rice," saying, "I believe the public has various opinions, but I would like to take responsibility until the end," indicating his intention to continue working toward lowering rice prices. The Diet Affairs Committee chairpersons of the five opposition parties met and confirmed their intention to call for the Minister's resignation. They also agreed to consider submitting a motion of no confidence against the Minister if no concrete movement toward resignation is seen. Voices calling for responsibility are spreading within the government and ruling party, making his resignation inevitable.
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Optional separate surnames for married couples: LDP Policy Research Council Chairman Onodera: "Legal reform difficult in this Diet session"
2025-05-20 21:19:00
Regarding the option of separate surnames for married couples, LDP Policy Research Council Chairman Onodera stated that if the system is introduced, it would be necessary to discuss its consistency with many related laws and regulations, which would take time, making it difficult to pass legal reform in the current Diet session.
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Prime Minister Ishiba speaks with German Chancellor over the phone for the first time, agreeing to work together on security and other issues
2025-05-20 20:07:00
Prime Minister Ishiba held his first telephone conversation with German Chancellor Merz, who took office this month, and the two agreed to work together to address various challenges facing the international community, including security. They also exchanged views on the impact that U.S. tariff measures will have on the multilateral trading system.
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Prime Minister Ishiba exchanges opinions with governors and others before formulating basic plan for regional revitalization
2025-05-20 19:27:00
In order to achieve regional revitalization, Prime Minister Ishiba exchanged opinions with representatives of local organizations such as the National Governors' Association, and expressed his view that it is important to spread advanced examples of solving regional issues, such as online medical consultations using digital technology, throughout the country.
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LDP Research Committee approves amendment to online casino measures agreed upon by ruling and opposition parties
2025-05-20 19:25:00
Regarding measures against online casinos, the LDP's investigative committee approved a proposed amendment that includes a ban on the opening of casino sites, which has been broadly agreed upon by both the ruling and opposition parties.
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Agriculture Minister Eto: "I want to be allowed to continue until the end" Opposition parties plan to call for his resignation
2025-05-20 19:11:00
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Eto, in a press conference after the Cabinet meeting on the 20th, commented on his own remarks such as "I have never bought rice," saying, "I think the public has various opinions, but I would like to take responsibility until the end," indicating his intention to continue working toward lowering rice prices. The Diet Affairs Committee chairpersons of the five opposition parties met and confirmed their intention to call for the Minister's resignation. They agreed to consider submitting a motion of no confidence for the Minister if no concrete movement toward resignation is seen.
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Pension system reform bill to be debated in the House of Representatives plenary session; CDP presents outline of proposed amendments
2025-05-20 19:01:00
A bill related to pension system reform was put on the floor of the House of Representatives for deliberation on the 20th. Regarding the measure to raise the basic pension, which was not included in the bill, Prime Minister Ishiba indicated his intention to consider how to respond based on the results of the fiscal review four years from now. In response to this, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) stated that if the increase in the basic pension is postponed, many generations will receive less pension in the future, which is a problem, and so they put together the outline of an amendment to include measures to raise the pension and presented it to the LDP.
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Prime Minister Ishiba: "Reduction of consumption tax rate is not appropriate" at the House of Representatives plenary session
2025-05-20 18:30:00
As debate between the ruling and opposition parties over how to handle the consumption tax becomes more active, Prime Minister Ishiba reiterated at a plenary session of the House of Representatives that it would be inappropriate to lower the tax rate, citing that the consumption tax is an important source of funding for social security.
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Pension system reform bill begins discussions in the House of Representatives
2025-05-20 17:27:00
A bill related to pension system reform was put on the floor of the House of Representatives for deliberation on the 20th. Regarding the measure to raise the basic pension level, which was not included in the bill, Prime Minister Ishiba indicated his intention to consider how to respond based on the results of the fiscal review four years from now.
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Agriculture Minister Eto: "I want to see it through to the end" Opposition parties press him in the Diet
2025-05-20 17:00:00
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Eto stated at a press conference after the Cabinet meeting on the 20th, "I think the public has various opinions, but I want to take responsibility to the end," in response to his own remarks, such as "I have never bought rice," and indicated his intention to continue working toward lowering rice prices. Prime Minister Ishiba repeatedly apologized for his inappropriate remarks at the House of Representatives plenary session, and expressed his intention to do his utmost to fulfill his duties toward stabilizing rice prices.
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LDP Secretary-General of the House of Councillors, Matsuyama: "Benefits and reductions in social insurance premiums are options in our campaign pledges"
2025-05-20 16:52:00
Regarding the campaign pledges for the summer's House of Councillors election, LDP Secretary-General Matsuyama of the House of Councillors expressed the view that one option in response to rising prices would be to propose reducing benefits and social insurance burdens.
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Government proposes adding three fields, including logistics warehouses, to the specified skills system
2025-05-20 16:44:00
Regarding the Specified Skilled Worker System, which accepts foreigners recognized as having specialized skills, the government presented a proposal at a meeting of experts on the 20th to add three new fields, such as logistics warehouses, to the areas eligible for acceptance, taking into account the serious labor shortage in Japan.
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The ruling and opposition parties hold discussions on the "remarks on a motion of no confidence in the Cabinet" made by Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Democratic Party of Japan
2025-05-20 16:03:00
Regarding comments made by Vice Speaker of the House of Representatives Gemba, a member of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, about how to handle a motion of no confidence in the Cabinet, a board meeting of the House of Representatives Rules and Administration Committee received criticism from both the ruling and opposition parties that his remarks were inappropriate for a vice speaker who is supposed to be neutral, and it was decided that the committee would hold discussions on how to respond.
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Agriculture Minister Eto: "I want to see it through to the end" Opposition parties press him in the Diet
2025-05-20 15:13:00
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Eto stated at a press conference after the Cabinet meeting on the 20th, "I think the public has various opinions, but I want to take responsibility to the end," in response to his own remarks, such as "I have never bought rice," and indicated his intention to continue working toward lowering rice prices. Prime Minister Ishiba repeatedly apologized for his inappropriate remarks at the House of Representatives plenary session, and expressed his intention to do his utmost to fulfill his duties toward stabilizing rice prices.
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House of Representatives Budget Committee to call Shimomura as witness on political funding issue, to hold further discussions on 21st
2025-05-20 14:20:00
Regarding the issue of political funding within the Liberal Democratic Party factions, at a meeting of the directors of the House of Representatives Budget Committee, the opposition parties repeatedly called for the calling of former Abe faction leader and former Chairman of the Policy Research Council, Shimomura, as an expert witness. However, the Liberal Democratic Party expressed its opposition and no compromise was reached, so it was decided to hold further discussions on the 21st.
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Prime Minister Ishiba apologizes to Okinawa Governor Tamaki for LDP lawmaker's "Himeyuri Monument" remarks
2025-05-20 14:06:00
Prime Minister Ishiba met with Okinawa Governor Tamaki and, with the remarks made by an LDP lawmaker regarding the explanation of the Himeyuri Monument, which commemorates the female students who died in the Battle of Okinawa, offered an apology, saying, "It was an extremely regrettable remark, and as the president of the LDP I offer my deepest apologies."
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Agriculture Minister Eto: "I want to see it through to the end" Opposition parties press him in the Diet
2025-05-20 13:38:00
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Eto said at a press conference after the Cabinet meeting on the 20th, "I think the public has various opinions, but I want to take responsibility until the end," in response to his own remarks, such as "I have never bought rice," and indicated his intention to continue working toward lowering rice prices. Prime Minister Ishiba apologized again on the morning of the 20th, saying that he felt a strong sense of responsibility as the appointing authority, and expressed his intention to fulfill his duties by achieving results in stabilizing rice prices.
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Minister of Economic Revitalization Akazawa to depart for Washington on the 23rd, negotiations to begin on the 24th
2025-05-20 13:18:00
Regarding the tariff measures of the Trump administration, Minister of Economic Revitalization Akazawa is preparing to depart for Washington on the 23rd of this week. Negotiations are expected to take place on the 24th Japan time.
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LDP/Komeito Secretary-General Meeting: Komeito calls Agriculture Minister Eto's remarks "highly inappropriate"
2025-05-20 13:14:00
The secretaries-general of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito Party met, with the Komeito Party harshly criticizing Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Eto's remarks regarding rice as extremely inappropriate. They also confirmed that they would work to address the high price of rice, including supporting the improvement measures put forward by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries regarding stockpiled rice.
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Agriculture Minister Eto: "I want to see it through to the end" Opposition parties press him in the Diet
2025-05-20 12:18:00
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Eto said at a press conference after the Cabinet meeting on the 20th, "I think the public has various opinions, but I want to take responsibility until the end," in response to his own remarks, such as "I have never bought rice," and indicated his intention to continue working toward lowering rice prices. Prime Minister Ishiba apologized again on the morning of the 20th, saying that he felt a strong sense of responsibility as the appointing authority, and expressed his intention to fulfill his duties by achieving results in stabilizing rice prices.
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Prime Minister Ishiba's Activities May 19, 2025
2025-05-20 09:21:00
(Prime Minister Ishiba's Activities May 19, 2025)
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Agriculture Minister Eto: "I've never bought rice" remarks, opposition parties criticize, Prime Minister apologizes
2025-05-20 08:32:00
Agriculture Minister Eto retracted his remarks regarding rice, apologized, and indicated his intention to continue his duties as minister. The opposition parties have unanimously criticized the remarks as inappropriate and cannot be overlooked, and plan to pursue them in the Diet. On the morning of the 20th, Prime Minister Ishiba apologized again, saying that he felt a strong sense of responsibility as the appointing authority, and expressed his desire for the minister to fulfill his duties by achieving results in stabilizing rice prices.
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Agriculture Minister Eto's "I've never bought rice" remarks criticized by opposition parties, to be pursued in the Diet
2025-05-20 06:23:00
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Eto has retracted his remarks regarding rice, apologized, and indicated his intention to continue his duties as minister. The opposition parties have unanimously criticized the remarks as inappropriate and cannot be overlooked, and plan to pursue them in the Diet.
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Japan-Latvia summit: agreement on Ukraine peace cooperation; joint statement issued
2025-05-20 00:12:00
Prime Minister Ishiba met with Latvian President Rinkevich, who is visiting Japan, and the two leaders agreed to continue to cooperate toward the realization of a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.
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