2025-05-28 21:25:00
Foreign Minister Iwatake met with Philippine Foreign Minister Manalo, who is visiting Japan, and agreed to hold a vice-ministerial-level strategic dialogue within the year to share strategic understanding in the security field, with China's increasing maritime expansion in mind.
2025-05-28 20:40:00
Regarding the "Japanese version of ride-sharing," the government's Regulatory Reform Promotion Council has passed a report that includes measures such as conducting trial runs to confirm safety and then proceeding with reforms to the system, in order to allow bus and railway operators to participate in addition to taxi companies.
2025-05-28 20:27:00
A meeting was held within the Liberal Democratic Party to discuss optional separate surnames for married couples, where a revised "philosophy" was presented that would push for the expansion of the use of maiden surnames as common names and require further deliberation. Although some voices of opposition were expressed, the party ultimately approved the proposal in principle, leaving future responses to the discretion of its executives.
2025-05-28 19:54:00
On the night of the 27th, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries temporarily suspended accepting applications for purchases of government stockpiled rice under discretionary contracts due to a flood of applications from retailers. On the 28th, the House of Representatives Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Committee questioned Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Koizumi regarding the soaring price of rice, and a debate was held on the sale of government stockpiled rice under discretionary contracts and the fair price of rice.
2025-05-28 19:25:00
Regarding bills related to pension system reform, following an agreement between party leaders on the 27th, the Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito Party, and Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan jointly submitted an amendment to the Diet that includes measures to raise basic pensions, and the bill has begun deliberations in the House of Representatives Health, Labor and Welfare Committee.
2025-05-28 19:17:00
On the night of the 27th, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries temporarily suspended accepting applications for purchases of government stockpiled rice under discretionary contracts due to a flood of applications from retailers. On the 28th, the House of Representatives Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Committee questioned Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Koizumi regarding the soaring price of rice, and a debate was held on the sale of government stockpiled rice under discretionary contracts and the fair price of rice.
2025-05-28 19:05:00
The Democratic Party for the People has submitted a bill to amend the Civil Code to introduce a system of optional separate surnames for married couples to the Diet. Based on the premise that the current family registry system will continue, if a couple chooses to have separate surnames, one of them will be designated as the head of the family registry when they get married, and their children will have the same surname.
2025-05-28 18:43:00
Regarding bills related to pension system reform, following an agreement between party leaders on the 27th, the Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito Party, and Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan jointly submitted an amendment to the Diet that includes measures to raise basic pensions, and the bill has begun deliberations in the House of Representatives Health, Labor and Welfare Committee.
2025-05-28 18:19:00
Hyogo Prefecture Governor Saito reiterated at a press conference that he did not give any instructions to leak private information of a former bureau director who prepared an exposé document issued by the prefecture's third-party committee, but said he would take responsibility for the leak as the head of the organization and therefore intends to cut his own salary.
2025-05-28 17:56:00
A new law to promote research, development, and utilization of AI while addressing the risks posed by AI was passed by a majority vote at the House of Councilors plenary session on the 28th.
2025-05-28 17:51:00
On the night of the 27th, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries temporarily suspended accepting applications for purchases of government stockpiled rice under discretionary contracts due to a flood of applications from retailers. On the 28th, the House of Representatives Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Committee questioned Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Koizumi regarding the soaring price of rice, and a debate was held on the sale of government stockpiled rice under discretionary contracts and the fair price of rice.
2025-05-28 17:48:00
Regarding the tariff measures taken by the Trump administration, Minister for Economic Revitalization Akazawa met with Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi to confirm the response policy before leaving Japan on the 29th for the next ministerial negotiations.
2025-05-28 17:40:00
Regarding the Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito Party and Japan Restoration Party discussing reducing hospital beds in order to reduce the burden of social insurance premiums, Matsumoto, president of the Japan Medical Association, expressed his intention to call for careful consideration, as this could cause anxiety among local residents.
2025-05-28 16:53:00
Former Prime Minister Kishida of the Liberal Democratic Party praised the agreement between the ruling party and the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan over the pension system, but expressed caution about forming a coalition with the Constitutional Democratic Party, a so-called "grand coalition," saying it would not be easy to reach an agreement within the government.
2025-05-28 16:51:00
Prime Minister Ishiba met with Prime Minister Spaic of Montenegro, the former Yugoslavia, who is visiting Japan, and the two leaders agreed to work together to strengthen a free and open international order based on the rule of law.
2025-05-28 16:48:00
A new law to promote research, development, and utilization of AI while addressing the risks posed by AI was passed by a majority vote at the House of Councilors plenary session on the 28th.
2025-05-28 16:04:00
Regarding the optional separate surnames for married couples, the Diet Affairs Committee chairmen of the Liberal Democratic Party and the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan met and agreed to begin deliberations on the opposition bill in the House of Representatives' Judicial Affairs Committee on the 30th.
2025-05-28 15:36:00
Regarding bills related to pension system reform, following an agreement between party leaders on the 27th, the Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito Party, and Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan jointly submitted an amendment to the Diet that includes measures to raise basic pensions, and the bill has begun deliberations in the House of Representatives Health, Labor and Welfare Committee.
2025-05-28 15:09:00
On the night of the 27th, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries temporarily suspended accepting purchase applications for the sale of government stockpiled rice under discretionary contracts due to a flood of applications from retailers. Also, at the House of Representatives Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Committee on the 28th, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Koizumi was questioned. Regarding the sale of government stockpiled rice under discretionary contracts, Noda, leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, and others pointed out that a fair price for producers should also be taken into consideration, but Minister Koizumi asked for understanding, saying that this is a measure to prevent consumers from moving away from rice.
2025-05-28 14:51:00
Deliberations on a bill to make the Science Council of Japan an independent corporation from the state began in the House of Councillors on the 28th, and Minister Sakai, who is in charge of the bill, asked for understanding, saying that incorporation will ensure a high degree of independence similar to that of academic institutions overseas.
2025-05-28 14:27:00
An amendment to the Green Transformation Promotion Act, which includes provisions to require companies with annual carbon dioxide emissions of 100,000 tons or more to participate in the emissions trading system scheduled to begin in fiscal 2026, was passed and enacted at the House of Councilors plenary session on the 28th.
2025-05-28 14:27:00
Regarding the optional separate surnames for married couples, the Diet Affairs Committee chairmen of the Liberal Democratic Party and the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan met and agreed to begin deliberations on the opposition bill in the House of Representatives' Judicial Affairs Committee on the 30th.
2025-05-28 13:33:00
Regarding the Disaster Prevention Agency that the government aims to establish, the Liberal Democratic Party has proposed to Prime Minister Ishiba that it be made into an organization directly under the Prime Minister with the authority to provide guidance and advice to other ministries and local governments on disaster response and other matters.
2025-05-28 13:28:00
Regarding bills related to pension system reform, following an agreement between party leaders on the 27th, the Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito Party, and Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan jointly submitted an amendment to the Diet that includes measures to raise basic pensions, and the bill has begun deliberations in the House of Representatives Health, Labor and Welfare Committee.
2025-05-28 13:01:00
Tax policy discussions were held between the Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito Party and the Japan Restoration Party, with the Restoration Party calling for a joint submission of a bill to make it clear that the provisional gasoline tax rate will be abolished from July of this year, and the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito Party conveyed their intention to take the bill back and consider it.
2025-05-28 12:16:00
On the night of the 27th, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries temporarily suspended accepting purchase applications for the sale of government stockpiled rice under discretionary contracts due to a flood of applications from retailers. Also, at the House of Representatives Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Committee on the 28th, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Koizumi was questioned. Regarding the sale of government stockpiled rice under discretionary contracts, Noda, leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, and others pointed out that a fair price for producers should also be taken into consideration, but Minister Koizumi asked for understanding, saying that this is a measure to prevent consumers from moving away from rice.
2025-05-28 12:05:00
Regarding the optional separate surnames for married couples, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan requested at the executive meeting of the House of Representatives' Judicial Affairs Committee that the opposition bill be discussed at the committee meeting on the 30th. In response, the Liberal Democratic Party said that the ruling and opposition parties needed to agree on the necessary deliberation time in advance, and the two parties were unable to reach an agreement, so they decided to continue discussions.
2025-05-28 11:36:00
The government has reported to the Diet that Economic Revitalization Minister Akizawa will visit Washington for four days from the 29th to take part in negotiations over tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.
2025-05-28 10:22:00
Regarding bills related to pension system reform, following an agreement between party leaders on the 27th, the Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito Party, and Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan jointly submitted an amendment to the Diet that includes measures to raise basic pensions, and the bill has begun deliberations in the House of Representatives Health, Labor and Welfare Committee.
2025-05-28 09:29:00
(Prime Minister Ishiba's Activities May 27, 2025) 07:59 Departs from the official residence on foot 08:00 Arrives at the official residence 08:21 Pays courtesy call on Mr. Lazzarini, Executive Director of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) (until 08:40) 08:49 Headquarters for the Promotion of Measures to Combat Loneliness and Isolation (until 08:53) 09:00 Cabinet meeting (until 09:09) 09:17 Headquarters for Countermeasures Regarding US Tariff Measures (until 09:27) 09:40 Meets with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Tachibana Keiichiro, Director-General of the National Security Council Okano Masatake, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Deputy Ministers for Foreign Affairs Namazu Hiroyuki and Akahori Takeshi, Director-General of the European Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Kitagawa Katsuro, and Director-General of the Middle East and Africa Bureau Ando Toshihide (until 10:40) 10:50 Meeting with Minister of Digital Affairs Taira Masaaki, Vice-Minister of the Cabinet Office Inoue Hiroyuki, Counselor Hayashi Yukihiro, and Deputy Director-General for Policy Nomura Yutaka (until 11:08) 11:26 Received a request for AI policy from Hokkaido Governor Suzuki Naomichi and Sapporo Mayor Akimoto Katsuhiro (until 11:46) 11:47 Welcoming Icelandic President Tomasdottir 11:48 Guard of Honor Salute, ceremony (until 11:53) 11:58 Meeting with President Tomasdottir (until 12:34) 12:37 Luncheon hosted by Prime Minister Ishiba (until 13:29) 13:31 Seeing off President Tomasdottir (until 13:32) 13:33 Director-General of the National Security Secretariat Okano meets with Cabinet Intelligence Director Hara Kazuya (until 13:41) 13:42 Meeting with Cabinet Intelligence Director Hara (until 13:48) 13:49 Meeting with Chey Tae-won, Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (until 14:08). 14:09 Received a proposal from Hagiuda Koichi, Chairman of the Cross-Party Parliamentary League Supporting the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), and others (until 14:22). 14:27 Meeting with Okano, Director-General of the National Security Secretariat, Funakoshi Takehiro, Administrative Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Okano Yukiko, Deputy Director-General for International Cultural Exchange, Kanai Masaaki, Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, Miyamoto Shingo, Director-General of the Southern and Southern Asia Bureau, Arima Yutaka, Director-General of the North American Affairs Bureau, and Katahira Satoshi, Director-General of the Economic Affairs Bureau (until 14:57). 14:58 Meets with Cabinet Public Relations Secretary Kobayashi Maki, Director-General of the National Security Secretariat Okano, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Namazu of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Director-General of the Southern Asia Department Miyamoto, Director-General of the International Cooperation Bureau Ishizuki Hideo, Vice-Minister for International Affairs Matsuo Takehiko, Vice-Minister for Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Terada Yoshimichi, Vice-Minister for Defense Policy Kano Koji, and Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff Yoshida Yoshihide (until 15:23). 15:24 Director-General of the National Security Secretariat Okano meets with Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Namazu of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Director-General of the Africa Department Horiuchi Toshihiko, Director-General of the International Cooperation Bureau Ishizuki, and Vice-Minister for Defense Policy Kano (until 15:34). 15:43 Receives a written recommendation from Chairperson Takaichi Sanae of the LDP's "Research Committee on Public Security, Terrorism and Cybercrime Countermeasures" and others (until 15:59). 16:06 Leaves the Prime Minister's Office. 16:07 Arrives at the Diet. 16:09 Enters the Standing Committee Chairman's Office. 16:12 Meeting with party leaders Noda Yoshihiko, leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, and Saito Tetsuo, leader of the New Komeito Party (until 16:24)16:25 Leaves the same room16:26 Departs from the Diet16:27 Arrives at the Prime Minister's Official Residence16:28 Interviews with media outlets (until 16:31)16:46 Presentation of Nabeshima ware from Saga Governor Yamaguchi Yoshiyoshi and others (until 17:14)17:16 National and local consultations (until 17:59)18:09 Meeting with Defense Minister Nakatani Gen (until 18:37)18:42 Departs from the Prime Minister's Official Residence18:59 Arrives at Kirigaya Funeral Hall in Nishi-Gotanda, Tokyo. Attends a funeral for a member of the Liberal Democratic Party19:02 Departs from the same place19:26 Arrives at Hotel New Otani in Kioicho, Tokyo. Discussions with members of the National Association of Mayors at the banquet hall "LAPIS3"20:53 Departs from the same place21:00 Arrives at the Prime Minister's Official Residence
2025-05-28 06:13:00
Regarding the bill related to pension system reform, the Liberal Democratic Party, the Komeito Party, and the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan agreed at a meeting of party leaders to amend the bill to include measures to raise the basic pension level. The amendment is expected to pass the House of Representatives on the 30th and be enacted in the current Diet session.
2025-05-28 06:02:00
Regarding the tariff measures of the Trump administration, Minister of Economic Revitalization Akazawa is scheduled to leave for Washington on the 29th to take part in ministerial negotiations. While further proposals are being considered to gain the understanding of the US side, there are also proposals from within the government to hold new negotiations in conjunction with an international conference to be held in France next week if no compromise is seen in the negotiations.
2025-05-28 05:28:00
On the night of the 27th, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries temporarily suspended accepting applications for purchases of government stockpiled rice under discretionary contracts due to a flood of applications from retailers. Meanwhile, retailers who have already signed contracts are accelerating preparations to start sales in the first half of next week.
