J Update

Voters in Japan voted for the Lower House election on February 8 th . The result will be fixed early morning of February 9 th . As election campaign continued, one issue was left behind in speeches of party leaders. That was selective separate surname. While the opposition parties demand to introduce selective separate surname of married couples, conservative leading parties argue that using nickname can fulfill the demands of separate surname. Nicknames, anyway, are already common in Japan. Article 750 of the Civil Code requires a married couple to use a common surname which is husband’s former family name or wife’s one. Legislative Council of Ministry of Justice  recommended  introduction of selective separate surname in 1996, concerning inconvenience in international business or insufficient assurance of individual human rights. Although the Diet started discussion over selective separate surname under minority government of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in 2025, the m...

While focusing on supporting households from price inflation, parties raise amendment of the Constitution of Japan in their platforms for the Lower House election. As polls of news organizations indicate sweeping victory of ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which demands a modern constitution, it became an important point of election whether powers for constitutional amendment occupy overwhelming number of seats. The LDP included constitutional amendment as one of five pillars in its  party platform  for this election. The party proposed four points in 2017 under the leadership of Shinzo Abe. They are 1) writing down “self-defense force (SDF)” in the constitution with change of Article 9, 2) emergency clause for major natural disaster to maintain the legislative branch, 3) guaranteeing at least one representative from every prefecture in the Upper House, and 4) enhancement of education. They are written in LDP platform for this Lower House election.   Abe argued that...

The only existing treaty over controlling nuclear weapons between the United States and Russia, or New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START),   was expired   on February 5 th . It is concerned that arms race over nuclear weapons will not only be accelerated between two major nuclear powers, but be complicated with participation of China which is ambitious to obtain hegemony in Asian region. Sufferers of atomic bombs in Japan have expressed their anxiety on unleashed nuclear powers.   Following Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT) I in 1972 and II in 1979, START was signed by leaders of the U.S. and the Soviet Union in 1991 and took effect in 1994. The treaty capped two countries’ possession of nuclear warheads at 6,000 each. The treaty was renewed in 2011 after it had been expired in 2009, mandating both governments to reduce their nuclear warheads through 2026.   Referring to Russia’s nuclear power since its aggression to Ukraine in 2022, Russian President Vlad...

One of the focal points in the campaign of Lower House election on February 8 th  is anti-spy law. Although Japanese government run by Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) failed in legislating an anti-spy act decades ago, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, LDP and other conservative parties advocate enhancing anti-spy regulations after the election. It is doubted that Japan cannot deal with leakage of sensitive information without new legislation which may violated privacy of the people.   In 1985, LDP administration led by prime minister Yasuhiro Nakasone submitted a bill of national secrecy act to the Diet. But the bill failed to pass the Diet, because it comprehensively covered ordinary people and included death penalty as the heaviest penalty. The LDP cabinets had made attempts to legislate regulations enhancing national secrecy. Former prime ministers Shinzo Abe legislated Specially Designated Secrecy Act in 2014 and Fumio  Kishida  established Economic Security Promotio...

Number of foreign visitors to Japan recorded new high in 2025. Those visitors spent their money as consumers, contributing to economic growth of Japan. However, the travelers from China reduced in December, right after Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made a careless speech on Taiwan contingency last November. Increase of foreign travelers cannot be taken for granted with China’s decision against Japan. Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and tourism, Yasuyuki Kaneko  announced  late January that estimated number of foreign visitors to Japan in 2025 was 42.7 million, exceeding 40 million for the first time. It was far beyond the previous record in 2024, which was 36.8 million.   The interim estimation of consumption of foreign visitors in 2025 marked 9.5 trillion yen, renewing the previous record of 8.1 trillion yen in 2024. The consumption included cost for accommodation and shopping. There was no example of consumption beyond 9 trillion yen previously. ...

A survey on 1,285 candidates of the Lower House election conducted by   Mainichi Shimbun   found  that a large part of candidates of Japan Innovation Party (JIP), the coalition partner of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), hoped Japan to consider nuclear sharing, which meant joint operation of nuclear weapons with the United States. It revealed a major difference in nuclear policy between JIP and LDP, which may affect formation of the coalition after the election.   The question was whether Japan should possess nuclear weapons, should not possess them but should consider nuclear sharing or should neither possess nor consider them. Among JIP candidates, 91 percent answered that Japan should consider nuclear sharing with the U.S. The party includes in its campaign platform “beginning of discussion on nuclear sharing,” revision of Japan’s pacifistic principle, exclusively defense-oriented policy, and enhancement of Japan’s deterrence with constitutional amendment. Hawk...

Schools in Japan cannot fill their slots for teachers these years. Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology   found  that the ratio of new teacher against demand marked a new record low in FY2025. Although the ministry has been taking measures to increase application for teachers, including improvement of working environment, this tendency has been accelerated every year. The research was made on education boards of all 47 prefectures and 20 major cities designated by ordinance of national government. Those local governments employ new teachers for FY2025 through the selection in FY2024.   According to the research, 37,375 teachers were recruited by elementary schools, mid-schools, high schools and special needs schools for handicapped students. It was the greatest number after FY1986, with increase of 954 from the previous year. The increase from previous fiscal year was seen in 43 education boards out of 65. However, the applications declined to 10...

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi argues that the Lower House election on February 8 th  will be a referendum for her premiership. She advocates mobilization of national budget represented by her slogan, “responsible and proactive public finances,” and nationalistic foreign and security policies called “strong Japan.” She is going to build up security capability of Japan through accumulation of defense budget, if she is reelected as the prime minister in the general election.   In her speech at extraordinary session of the Diet last fall, Takaichi proposed revision of defense plan to increase defense budget to the level of over 2 percent of GDP beyond the line drawn by former prime minister Fumio Kishida, which would be raised up to 2 percent by FY2027. It was stemming from request of the United States. U.S.  National Defense Strategy  demands its allies 5 percent of defense spending, which would be broken down to 3.5 percent for core military spending and 1.5 percent fo...

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi insists that she would promote “responsible and proactive public finances” as the policy for the Lower House election with highest priority. However, it is unclear what “responsible” and “proactive” mean. Although she stresses necessity for strategic investment, markets respond to her economic policies with skepticisms about the future financial balance of the government of Japan.   The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) raises “strong economy” at the first policy for its election campaign, prior to local revitalization, diplomacy and security policy, social security and constitutional amendment. Takaichi’s portraits with her smile are featured between the pages of  campaign flyer , indicating that the party is heavily dependent on her popularity among the people.   The platform defines responsible and proactive public finances as creating positive cycle of investment and growth through emboldened investment, powerful economic growth and increase...

Newspapers revealed their early estimation of campaign for the Lower House election on February 8 th . All of three researches by  Mainichi ,  Yomiuri  and  Nikkei  predicted that the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) would be reaching a simple majority by itself, catching a wind for Sanae Takaichi Cabinet. The Centrist Reform Alliance (CRA) has not seen a positive consequence of integration by Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ) and Komeito.   Those researches were based on their own survey for 289 single-seat districts and 176 seats in proportional districts. Voters will vote for an individual candidate in each of their local district and for a party which had offered its own slate of candidates. Seats in proportional district will be distributed to parties based on the votes they obtained in ten blocks in the election.   Mainichi Shimbun   reported  that the LDP may increase its seat, currently 196, to the close level of a simple ...

A 35-year-old young former diplomat, Takato Ishida,   won   gubernatorial election in Fukui prefecture on January 25 th . The significance of his victory is that he was supported by young populist party, Sanseito, which is holding ultra-conservative policies. Sanseito recognizes Ishida’s winning as good news for its advance in the election of the House of Representatives, in which the party hopes to increase its seats. Former governor of Fukui, Tatsuji Sugimoto, took office in 2019 and reelected in 2023. In October 2025, Fukui prefectural government announced that it received reports from some staffs in the government office which indicated consecutive sexual harassment by Sugimoto of sending sexually inappropriate messages to female staffs. Sugimoto admitted it and apologized to them, and announced his resignation. He stepped down in December. The election in January was to fill the seat of him.   Former mayor of Echizen city and vice-governor of Fukui prefecture, Ken-ic...

General election of the House of Representative to fill 465 vacant seats, created by dissolution decided by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, was officially announced on January 27 th . 1285 candidates with 11 parties or independent filed their candidacy to election office of the national government and embarked on their campaign. The election day is set on February 8 th . Takaichi, the president of Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), explained that the election would be about choosing her or someone else for the leader of Japan. Building strong and prosperous Japan is her main appeal to the voters. “Our policy has changed from the previous administration. The core policy is ‘responsible and proactive public finances,’” said Takaichi in her campaign speech.   The opposition parties accuse Takaichi of having a snap election to galvanize her own regime. The leader of Centrist Reform Alliance (CRA), a new party established with merge of Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and Komeito, Y...

Leaders of major parties appeared in   the debate   sponsored by Japan National Press Club and exchanged their views on coming general election of the House of Representatives on February 8 th . The debate indicated that the election campaign would be focused on consumption tax cut, framework of leading coalition and measures for increasing foreigners in Japan.   Before Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi decided a snap election earlier this month, the opposition parties have been demanding partial or complete cut of consumption tax to support consumers. Taking those arguments as political pressure for her administration, Takaichi announced that she would consider two-year moratorium of the tax for food, to contend the idea of halving tax rate or permanent elimination for food by the oppositions.   In the debate, Takaichi revealed the timeline for introducing new tax policy she hoped. If a multi-partisan conference on this issue, which she hopes to launch after the electio...

For the first time since the inauguration in October 2025, approval rate for Sanae Takaichi Cabinet showed apparent decline in the polls conducted by news organizations just before entering election campaign of the Lower House. Main reason of this steep down is skepticism on Takaichi’s decision to have a snap election before FY2026 budget bill passes the Diet. While Takaichi embraces fundamental concern for election campaign, the new opposition party, Centrist Reform Alliance, has not achieved significant approval from voters. In the  poll  of  Mainichi Shimbun  conducted on January 24 th  and 25 th , approval rate for Takaichi Cabinet declined by 10 percent from previous poll last month to 57 percent. Disapproval rate rose by 7 percent to 29 percent. The rate significantly dropped among elder people. The respondents who approved decision of dissolving the House of Representatives were 27 percent, overwhelmed by those who did not approve with 41 percent.   ...

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...