J Update

Russian President Vladimir Putin   made   his first visit to one of the islands that Japan claims to be its Northern Territory, Etorofu Island, on August 14 th . Putin is supposed to have demonstrated his position that Russia would not make any compromise in discussion with Japan over the islands, which has been suspended since Russia’s aggression in Ukraine in 2022. Japan protested Putin’s abrupt visit to “Japan’s inherited territory.” It surely exacerbates bilateral relations between Japan and Russia. Putin’s visit to Etorofu made the second example for Russian president to visit Japan’s Northern Territory. When former president Dmitry Medvedev visited Kunashiri Island in 2010, then prime minister of Japan Naoto Kan labeled the visit as “intolerably rough action.” As Russia kept on asserting that the islands of Northern Territory should be maintained as territory of Russia, the bilateral relationship was deteriorated.   It is obvious that Putin’s visit this time has the...

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)   proposed  Sanae Takaichi government to introduce stronger interception of foreign information, which affects security of Japan. While the government can collect information only for criminal investigation, this interception will be applied all kinds of information. This action is likely to face fundamental criticism on violation of freedom of communication. Concerning consecutive organized crimes in Japan, the government enforced the  Act on Communications Interception for Criminal Investigation  in 2020. Under the law, organizations of law enforcement, such as police, can wiretap telephone talk, exchange of documents through fax and emails. The interception on the law requires a warrant issued by the court.   The proposal by the LDP is to expand the interception to communication for all the kinds of purpose, as long as it is related to security of Japan. The interception targets malicious activities by foreigners against Jap...

The Centrist Reform Alliance is still struggling for integration. While the party issued a   policy package  for their future administration in July, they are still away from integration with Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ) and Komeito. It should be one of the consequences of a hasted merge of parties for an election. They hope to conclude on building up the party by the end of August.   The CRA was established in January by members with CDPJ and Komeito in the Lower House to cooperate with each other in the snap election declared by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The CRA experienced a significant defeat in the election, facing criticisms from voters on their attempt of maneuver for election. After the election, the members with CDPJ and Komeito in the Upper House hesitated joining the CRA.   One of the difficulties for their integration is difference in policies. While the CDPJ still finds some unconstitutionality in 2015 security legislation, which ...

While coalition partner of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Japan Innovation Party (JIP), insists on reduction of Diet seats, the parties discuss reform of election system. The chairman of multi-partisan conference for election system in the House of Representatives, Keisuke Suzuki (LDP),   offered  a draft of new system that laid out stricter standard for resurrection in proportional district. Some measures to conciliate opposition parties are also included in the draft. Lower House election has two districts. One is single-seat districts amounting to 289 allocated to all over Japan. Another is proportional district with 176 seats, which is distributed to parties depending on the votes they obtained. Most candidates are nominated in both districts. Even if one candidate loses in single-seat district, he or she can get a seat in proportional district. How the candidate was close to the winner in the single-seat district determines who will win the seat in proportional distr...

Nagasaki had the 81 st   anniversary from devastation of an atomic bomb on August 9 th . In his   Peace Declaration , the Mayor of Nagasaki City, Shiro Suzuki, demanded the world without nuclear weapons, calling that cursed weapon “absolute evil.” Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, did not speak her determination for elimination of nuclear weapons, as she didn’t in Hiroshima three days ago. The prime minister of Japan does not represent sentiment of the people still suffering from devastation of nuclear war.   In the memorial ceremony in Nagasaki, Suzuki introduced an episode of hibakusha, Katsuji Yoshida, who experienced atomic bombing at the age of thirteen. The boy witnessed burnt black man, popped out eyeballs, extracted guts and people without limbs. Many people died after drinking oil, blood and contaminated water flowing Urakami River. Yoshida survived with his burnt body, annoyed with discrimination and fear of cancer.   “Nuclear weapon is not necessary evil, bu...

The Diet   passed  the bills for stricter regulation against false information through social networking services (SNS), which would be distributed in election campaigns for public offices. It has been discussed that untrue information distorted result of elections. New legislature mandates providers of SNS to take necessary measures to maintain fair election. However, the laws do not have any provision of penalty, inviting skepticisms on its effectiveness.   In the  gubernatorial election of Hyogo  in 2024, a lot of information which truthfulness was not identified appeared on SNS sites. Backed by that kind of information, the incumbent governor, Motohiko Saito, who were in the scandal of harassment on his staffs, was reelected. The election ignited discussion over necessity of stricter regulation on using SNS in elections.   In the election of governor of Miyagi in 2025, false information against incumbent governor was distributed. It  indicated that...

The government of Japan   is expected  to buy back the rice for national reserve which was released in 2025. Although it released a great amount of rice reserve for reducing rice price, that measure caused large amount of rice stock in the market. The private rice stock marked a record high, putting downward pressure on rice price. Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) will make a final decision on the buyback late August, considering estimation of rice harvest of this year. Caused by poor harvest in the previous year and increasing consumption, the price of rice rose to an extreme level in 2025. Rice is the staple food for consumers in Japanese. The government of Japan decided to release governmental stock of rice to stabilize rice price. It was highly unusual for the government to release its rice stock not for maintenance of supply in natural disaster, but for controlling the price.   The government has been maintaining around 1 million metric tons of ...

On August 6 th , Hiroshima memorized 81 st  anniversary of devastation brought by an atomic bombing in 1945. While local leaders accused current threatening and illegal activities of major nuclear powers in the world, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi did not directly pledge maintenance of three non-nuclear principles for the future. Hibakushas in Hiroshima found Takaichi’s weakness as the leader of only one country in the world that suffered from nuclear war.   Mayor of Hiroshima delivers a declaration in peace memorial ceremony on August 6 th  every year. In  2026 Peace Declaration , Mayor Kazumi Matsui referred to “military invasion using nuclear weapons as tools of intimidation as well as other imperious actions by major powers in violation of international law.” It was obvious that Matsui implied Russia’s invasion in Ukraine and military operation in Venezuela, or possibly in Iran, by the United States. He regretted that the review conference of Nuclear Non-prolifer...

Ministry of Defense (MOD) released   2026 Defense of Japan , or Defense White Paper, on August 4th. Reflecting Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s signature policy called “crisis management investment,” the paper stressed development of measures to deal with “new ways of warfare,” which encourages investment on new technologies for sustainability in warfare. Dealing with China’s advance is major focus for Japan’s defense strategy. In opening statement of the white paper, Minister of Defense Shinjiro Koizumi stresses severity of security environment surrounding Japan, as former defense leaders have been referring to. “Drawing lessons from Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, countries around the world are quickly preparing for ‘new ways of warfare,’ such as mass employment of unmanned assets, as well as getting ready for prolonged conflicts,” says Koizumi. In short, Japan hopes to be ready for new type of warfare, because other countries are doing it.   The white paper recognizes t...

Embracing a serious concern on extreme devaluation of Japanese yen, financial authorities in both governments of Japan and the United States made coordinated intervention in currency market. Both governments announced on August 3 rd  that they made intervention of purchasing Japanese yen, causing steep rise of yen’s value in foreign exchange. It is still unclear whether this urgent action will bring stability in a string of yen’s depreciation.   Minister of Finance, Satsuki Katayama, issued a  statement  that announced coordinated intervention by Japanese Ministry of Finance and U.S. Department of Treasury of purchasing Japanese yen on July 31 st  in EST of the U.S. “This joint action was taken pursuant to the U.S.-Japan Finance Ministers’ Joint Statement issued in September 2025 and countered excessive volatility and disorderly movements in the Japanese yen in recent months,” said Katayama in the statement. The statement stressed that both governments would not...

A week has passed since a magnitude 7.1 earthquake hit Kumamoto and other cities around. The earthquake caused thousands of evacuees, who are suffering from high heat in midsummer. The people who are vulnerable to disaster, including aged or handicapped people, need helping hands to survive. It is expected that the government of Japan takes appropriate measures for evacuees to spend comfortable life as much as possible. At the time of 6 p.m. on August 3 rd , 38 people  have died  with the earthquake, including an aged woman who died in her car while she was evacuating, 98 were injured, and 8,262 have evacuated, being unable to return their home. 12,276 houses and buildings were damaged, out of which 700 were totally broken down. 45,280 houses lost water supply. 155 shelters using schools or other public facilities were established in Kumamoto prefecture.   The evacuees are forced to have uneasy life in shelters without air conditioner, kitchen or bathroom in a good condit...

Encouraged by xenophobic sentiment growing among Japanese people, the government of Japan   is setting  stricter standards for foreigners to obtain license of permanent residence. New standards will include higher income which is equivalent to ordinary Japanese citizens. They also require more contribution to national interest of Japan than ever. It reflects political tendency that a party upholding strict regulation on immigrants attracts public attention.   The Liberal Democratic Party and Japan Innovation Party  agreed  for forming a leading coalition last October on enhancement of measures against illegal activities of foreigners. In the Lower House election in February 2026, ultraconservative Sanseito showed upsurge with  policies  for stricter regulation against foreigners, including limitation on acceptance of foreign people by reviewing labor system. Conservative parties are competing each other over regulation on foreigners to attract voters w...

The great earthquake in Kumamoto on July 28 th  paralyzed manufacturing around Kumamoto area. Kumamoto is known as concentration of semiconductor industry. A lot of factories for producing semiconductor and related goods suffered from the earthquake with suspension of their operation. It is not clear how much the earthquake affected businesses in Kumamoto and Kyushu area.   This earthquake in Kumamoto  imposed  great damage on various industries. It has blown away Aeon Mall Kumamoto, which is one of the greatest shopping malls in Kyushu region. Leak of gas after the earthquake is supposed to have caused a major explosion in the building. Three chimneys in Yatsushiro Factory of Japan Paper fell down with the quake. The factory was producing papers for books and newspapers. The chimneys had been the symbol of landscape of Yatsushiro city.   Having many facilities for semiconductor and related industries, Kyushu is dubbed as “silicon island.” Kumamoto is the center...

Immediately after she announced her plan to reduce consumption tax rate for foods from 8 percent to 1, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi faced strong dispute of lawmakers in the Liberal Democratic Party. The criticisms targeted lack of perspective for fiscal resource of the tax cut and difficulty of resumption of current tax rate two years later. It is possible that the frustration with Takaichi’s unilateral handlings of policies will erode her political basis in the ruling party.   Consumption tax cut was firstly advocated by opposition parties as the policy for the Lower House election in February, which was abruptly decided by Takaichi. To compete with rival parties, Takaichi suddenly included the consumption tax cut for foods in LDP’s campaign platform. Having achieved victory in the election, Takaichi launched a multi-partisan council to discuss the tax cut. Although the council could not reach a consensus, Takaichi decided on July 30 th  to introduce the tax cut in April 202...

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi   announced  her idea to the Liberal Democratic Party to introduce temporary consumption tax rate for foods at 1 percent for two years starting from next April. Although she had received a report from the National Council on Social Security, Takaichi decided to ignore opinion of the opposition parties that was against consumption tax cut. Takaichi believes that her policy will work to mitigate impacts of price inflation, but it has many problems.   Consumption tax cut was in Takaichi’s policy platform for February Lower House election. It was designed as a measure for the period before the government would introduce refundable tax credit. Although Takaichi hoped to receive a report from the national council that would recommend consumption tax cut to 1 percent, the opposition parties did not agree with the consumption tax cut, supporting direct subsidies for households. The council wrapped up its report with options of both consumption tax cu...

Central Minimum Wages Council reached   a deal  on the average of minimum wage for workers in Japan in 2026 at 1,176 yen per hour, which rose by 55 yen (4.9 percent) from the previous year. Although the government of Japan has a target for minimum wage at 1,500 yen, the gain toward it gets smaller, reflecting recent slowdown of consumers price hike. It is likely that momentum for wage hike can be declining in Sanae Takaichi administration. Every prefecture sets its own minimum wage in the fall, which indicates the lowest limit of hourly wage for an employee. A minimum wage is determined based on consideration of workers’ quality of life, average salary of ordinary people and solvency of companies. Central Minimum Wages Council decides a guideline for minimum wage hike in advance to local prefectural councils start discussion.   Last year, the central council presented 1,118 yen per hour for average of minimum wage, which marked 63 yen (6.0 percent) of increase from the pr...

Major quake hit Kumamoto again. An earthquake with degree 7 of seismic intensity shook Kumamoto and other cities on July 28 th , causing a number of deaths and injuries. A lot of families had to evacuate broken houses in extremely hot and humid summer days and nights. Although major earthquake was anticipated by some experts, it was not easy to be ready for natural disaster.   The earthquake occurred on 4:27 p.m. with 7.1-magnitude. Seismic center was 16 kilometers underground of Kumamoto city, Kumamoto. It was  reported  that 12 died, 6 are in cardiac arrest and 4 are missed at the time of 9 p.m. on July 29 th . Nearly 10 thousand people  evacuated  and over 50 thousand houses lost water service. Blackout spread to over 40 thousand houses.   Unknown number of the people are captured under broken houses and ambulances keep on sending injured people to the hospitals which do not have sufficient capacity for caring them. Nuclear Regulation Authority announced...

Having Diet session gotten through, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held an ordinary   press conference  at Prime Minister’s Official Residence on July 27. She expressed no regret on her few appearances to Diet discussions. She also hoped to accelerate in implementing coalition agreement with Japan Innovation Party which pushed its own agenda in the Diet. Leaving measures to deal with price inflation behind, Takaichi looks to reshuffling her cabinet and party leaders.   After passing annual budget bill every year, it is usual for the prime minister to join intensive discussions on major topics in the Committee on Budget of both chambers. Takaichi’s predecessor, Shigeru Ishiba,  attended  the intensive discussions for 90 hours in 2025. Takaichi spent only 29 hours for the discussion this year. Her reluctancy on answering questions of opposition parties in the Diet is outstanding.   Takaichi seems to find less value in Diet discussion. To promote reduction of L...