J Update

Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO)   announced   on January 22 nd   that it stopped reactor #6 of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant. Although the reactor resumed its operation a day before for the first time in these 14 years, it lasted only 6 hours. It is unclear when it will restart. Fundamental skepticism is cast on TEPCO as an operator of nuclear power plant, as it repeats mismanagements in its effort to resume the reactors.   Failing in taking necessary measures to prevent a disaster with earthquake, TEPCO is the perpetrator in severe accident of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in 2011. It applied to examination for resumption of reactors #6 and #7 in Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant, which is one of the biggest nuclear power plants in the world with 8.21 million kilowatts of output, in 2013 to clear stricter regulations laid out considering catastrophe of Fukushima in 2011.   However, TEPCO’s plan to restart reactors in Kashiwazaki-Kariwa has been rej...

The House of Representatives was dissolved on January 23 rd . One of two chambers of the Diet became empty. A general election for fulfilling 465 seats will officially be announced on January 27 th   and voted on February 8 th . Caused by sudden decision of dissolution by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, the election will ask the voters a choice between conservative leading coalition and moderate centrist opposition. Most parties uphold measures, including consumption tax cut, for supporting households that are suffering from price inflation.   On the first day of ordinary session of the Diet on January 23, the Speaker of Lower House, Fukushiro Nukaga,  read out  a decree from the Emperor. “Due to Article 7 of the Constitution of Japan, I dissolve the House of Representatives,” it said. Article 7  provides  that the Emperor dissolves the House of Representatives “with advice and approval of the Cabinet.” The Cabinet is led by Takaichi who has power to replace...

A working team in Legislative Council of Ministry of Justice (MOJ), an advisory body for Minister of Justice, submitted   a draft  for revision of retrial system. Although difficulty of starting retrial has been criticized as generating false accusations, the draft effectively preserves public prosecutors’ power to dispute decision of court for retrial. Lawyers are opposing the idea, arguing that would cause delay of procedure for retrial. Even a defendant whose guiltiness was confirmed by the courts can request a retrial with some new evidences which have not been discussed. When the court approves rightness of the request submitted by the side of defendant, retrial starts. It has often been the case that new evidence disclosed by law enforcement organization becomes a clear evidence with which the court needed to sentence innocence.   The working team proposed a new rule that the court has to order the public prosecutors to disclose related evidence. However, the rule i...

Nara District Court on January20th   sentenced   life in prison to the defendant, Tetsuya Yamagami, in the case of murdering former prime minister Shinzo Abe on July 8 th , 2022. Recognizing a hard situation of the Yamagami’s family suffering from his mother’s fanatic devotion to Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU), or former Unification Church, the court found the murder to be extremely wrong. Oddly enough, the court did not consider the relationship between Abe and FFWPU, which must have been the main reason why Yamagami targeted Abe.   Yamagami shot Abe to death during Abe’s campaign rally in Nara city. The court found that the defendant had been indifferent to someone’s life and decided the assault with his own motivation, considering the environment of the crime that was surrounded by the audience. “In the process of decision for murder, it was not found that unhappiness of the defendant strongly affected,” said the court.   It was revealed...

The Centrist Reform Alliance (CRA), which consists of lawmakers from Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ) and Komeito, published their   policy platform  for coming election brought by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s decision to dissolve the House. The platform includes approval of 2015 security legislations under former Shinzo Abe administration and resumption of nuclear power plant in Japan. For the lawmakers with CDPJ, it marked a significant change of basic policies and demanded compromise to promote integration of opposition powers. The platform is titled “Redesigning shape of society for better future, putting their slogan of “consumers first.” “We put constitutionalism on basis of our politics. We prevent abuse of political power and enhance stability and vitality of society, including local community, with respect for various values and ways of life through concept of coexistence and mutual support,” says the platform. It focuses on dialogue and inclusivenes...

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced on January 19 th   that she would dissolve the House of Representatives on January 23 rd , the first day of 2026 ordinary session of the Diet. The election to fulfill vacancy of the House will be officially announced on January 27 th   and voted on February 8 th . Takaichi set a line for victory at a simple majority – 233 seats out of all 465 in the Lower House -- by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition partner, Japan Innovation Party (JIP). In her  press conference , Takaichi explained the reason why she decided a snap election in this month. “My cabinet grapples with totally new economic and fiscal policies and important issues that construct a basis of our nation. I ask the people an endorsement for me and new coalition with JIP,” said Takaichi. Although it is always true for any prime minister, she would bet her premiership on winning in the coming election of the Lower House.   A prime minister does not nee...

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is going to   approve  “double nomination” of candidates, who were involved in the kickback scandal of political funds, in next general election of the House of Representatives. The scandal shook the party these years, causing significant losses of seats in recent elections. The president of LDP, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is going to reinstate those lawmakers with scandal, assuming that voters no longer insist on past money scandal of the LDP.   The scandal was revealed in November 2023, when major news organization followed a report of Shimbun Akahata, the newspaper of Japan Communist party, in 2022. A large number of LDP lawmakers received fund from factions they had been affiliated, according to their sales of tickets for fundraising party. The lawmakers involved in the scandal were mainly with former factions led by Shinzo Abe or Toshihiro Nikai.   The LDP  found  that 85 lawmakers had failed in legally reporting t...

Consumption tax cut appears to be one of the important talking points in coming election of the House of Representatives, which is expected to be called by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. New party by opposition powers, Centrist Reform Alliance (CRA), is going to   include  consumption tax cut for foods in their campaign platform. Takaichi also considers to embrace that policy for the election, receiving request from Japan Innovation Party (JIP). However, consumption tax cut has negative aspect on her government.   Consumption tax cut was  one of the main issues  for 2024 Upper House election. As some opposition parties demanded total abolition of the tax, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ) and JIP argued that the tax rate should be 0 percent for foods. The Democratic Party for the People (DPP) proposed halving the tax rate from 10 percent to 5 percent. As the leading parties at the time, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Komeito did not hav...

The leader of Japan Innovation Party (JIP) and Governor of Osaka Prefecture, Hirofumi Yoshimura,   announced  that he would step down as governor and run for the election to fulfill his vacancy. The Mayor of Osaka City and sub-leader of JIP, Hideyuki Yokoyama, also resign as mayor with same reason of Yoahimura. They believe that they can push a controversial policy which JIP has been insisting for years. The name of policy is Osaka Capital Initiative. The by-election will be held on the same day as general election of the House of Representatives in the Diet, called by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.   Yoshimura revealed his plan for reelection in a meeting of JIP’s local body, Osaka Innovation Party, on January 15th. “For growth and future of Osaka, let me try it with campaign promise of Back-up Capital Initiative or Osama Capital Initiative,” said Yoshimura in the meeting. Yoshimura and Yokoyama submitted resignation to their governments on January 16th.   Osaka pre...

The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ) and Komeito agreed on January 15 th  that they would establish a new party by merging with each other. New party will be for the members of House of Representatives, and the members of both parties will leave current party and transfer to the new party. Both parties have chosen a traditional option for opposition parties to survive a crisis of existence, receiving pressure from the leading parties and low popularity.   “It is a good opportunity for the centrists to take its position at the center of politics,”  said  the leader of CDPJ, Yoshihiko Noda, after a meeting with Chief Representative of Komeito, Tetsuo Saito. “It is important for the centrists to get together for keeping Japan as a pacifist nation,” said Saito.   The greatest reason of establishing a new party is to counter right-leaning administration led by Prime Minister Sanae Taiachi and its coalition partner, Japan Innovation Party (JIP). As CDPJ...

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi   told   the leaders of leading parties that she would dissolve the House of Representatives early in 2026 ordinary session of the Diet scheduled to be convoked on January 23 rd . A general election to select new members of the House is supposed to be held on February 8 th . Not only lawmakers of opposition parties but the leading parties are surprised with abrupt decision of Takaichi’s political maneuver. Takaichi had a meeting with Secretary General of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Shun-ichi Suzuki, and the leader of Japan Innovation Party (JIP), Hirofumi Yoshimura, on January 14 th . In the meeting, Takaichi told those party leaders that she would dissolve the Lower House “at early time of the ordinary session.” If Takaichi is reelected the prime minister after the general election, she will need to pass FY2026 budget bill the Diet as early as possible. She is expected to dissolve the House on the first day of the session.   Accordin...

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi met the President of Republic of Korea, Lee Jae Myung, in Nara city, the hometown of Takaichi on January 13 th . Both leaders agreed on enhancing ties on economic security, reconfirming continuance of “shuttle diplomacy” between them. Takaichi and Lee tried to emphasize that their relationship is quite well, considering the impact of the meeting for international relations and domestic politics.   It became the second opportunity for them to meet as the leaders, following last October when Takaichi visited Seoul to participate in annual summit of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). In the last meeting, Takaichi and Lee reconfirmed shuttle diplomacy, which they had succeeded from their predecessors. Lee’s visit to Nara is implementation of their promise.   Takaichi and Lee  agreed  in Nara on setting up a strategic and mutually beneficial discussion by officials of both government on economic security with detailed discussion over m...

Despite she had said nothing about it openly, speculation of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s deliberation on dissolution of the Lower House and having a snap election is bringing some unexpected consequences of parties. Some opposition parties are approaching each other and another one is taking distance from Takaichi administration. Some questions on the option of snap election are raised from her Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). After the report of her consideration of an early snap election, Takaichi kept on telling nothing about it. “I have decided nothing,” Takaichi  said  to one of her allies. However, she  told  one of LDP leaders that she was considering dissolution of the Lower House at the beginning of coming ordinary session convoked on January 23 rd  and consequently a general election of the House.   The leader of Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ), Yoshihiko Noda,  had a meeting  with Chief Representative of Komeito, Tets...

Board of Audit of Japan (BAJ) released   a report  on situation of funds that are established under supervision of ministries of national government or prefectural governments. The first report on this issue found that there have been a large number of funds in certain ministries and that they possess a great amount of subsidy unused. The size has swollen beyond 20 trillion yen, exceeding annual national budget. BAJ recommends ministries to review their funds to eliminate its inefficiency.   The national government of Japan issues subsidy to projects of ministries, independent administrative agencies or local governments, which are not completed within a fiscal year. Although the national government can check out how much subsidies are issued, it cannot grab how much was spent for the projects. Receiving a request from the House of Councillors in 2024, BAJ started investigation on those funds. The report is the result of the investigation.   According to the report, ...

Japan Innovation Party (JIP)   released  a result of its internal investigation on its members’ false payment of premier for national health insurance. It revealed that four local assembly members with the party had been involved in receiving wrong benefit in the payment. Although the party upholds reform with self-sacrifice, its members have been taking advantage of its status as politicians to save their spendings.   The newspaper of Japan Communist Party, Akahata, firstly  reported  last December that some JIP local assembly members were evading payment for national health insurance by assuming board member of an incorporated association related to the insurance system. Although the premier should proportionally be paid to the volume of each income, those JIP members had been paid a smaller amount by being board member of the organization.   The JIP interim  report  released on January 7 th  found that four local assembly members with JIP ...

A possibility of early snap election was suddenly appeared in political speculations.   Yomiuri Shimbun   and   Mainichi Shimbun   reported on January 10 th   that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi was considering dissolution of the House of Representatives at the beginning of coming ordinary session of the Diet on January 23 rd . In case she calls the dissolution on the day, the election is going to be on February 8 th   or 15 th . Takaichi will still consider merit and demerit of early snap election before her decision. According Yomiuri’s  report,  the main reason why Takaichi considered a snap election was high approval rate. She keeps 70 percent of approval rate in its polls since she took the office last October. There are some arguments among the people in her administration that she should call a snap election before the rate declines during discussions in the ordinary session of the Diet.   Although Takaichi went through an extraordinary...

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) decided to refund payment of welfare for low-income families, which once was cut along with price deflation between 2013 and 2015. Although the Supreme Court found the cut during that period had been illegal, the ministry still argues that the policy was partly not illegal. The plaintiffs demand full refund.   Following Article 25 of Constitution of Japan, that guarantees everyone “the right to maintain the minimum standards of wholesome and cultured living,” Japan has a welfare system in which subsidy is paid for families with income lower than minimum standards of life. The subsidy is paid for cost of food, appliances, rent, and medical treatment. The  total recipients  of the subsidy are about 2 million people of 1.6 million families.   Some recipients of the welfare filed lawsuits against the government of Japan in 2014 and later that its decision to reduce the subsidy between 2013 and 2015 was illegal. In that period...