J Update

Fumio Kishida Cabinet submitted a draft of Important Economic Information Protection and Utilization Act to the Diet. The act was aimed to halt leaks of crucial information not only by public workers but by the workers with private sectors. While the act is expected to expand business opportunities with foreign companies, it is concerned that security clearance introduced in it may disturb privacy and commercial activities. Act on the Protection of Specially Designated Secret (APSDS) of 2014 protects crucial information on defense, diplomacy, prevention of spying and anti-terrorism, not securing important information obtained through economic activities. Acknowledging necessity of protecting secrecy in economy, such as in joint project of developing security equipment with foreign companies, the government of Japan has been considering new legislation.   The draft submitted to the Diet  requires the government to designate information, which will be related to infrastructure or supply

Population of Japan further decreased in 2023. Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare released   an interim report   of vital statistics in 2023, which marked the record low of new birth, 758,631. On the other hand, deaths increased to 1,590,503, hitting the record high. Population in Japan naturally declined by 831,872 in 2023, which was the greatest number in history. Policy of Fumio Kishida administration, which focuses on dealing with low birth, has not been working at all, so far. Births decreased by 41,097 in 2023, which was 5.14% of decline from 2022. In 2022, the decreasing rate was 5.12%, meaning acceleration of speed of decline. While the ratio of decrease was 8.8% between 2010 and 2016, it jumped up to 21.1% between 2016 and 2022. The number of deaths increased for three consecutive years and marked the record high in 2023. Deaths exceeded births for seventeen consecutive years.   The greatest cause of low birth is decrease of marriage. Only 489,281 couples got married in 202

Newspapers released the result of February polls. The approval rates of Cabinet led by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida hit a new lowest since his administration embarked on October, 2021. When the approval rate showed a little boost last month, it was speculated that the decline of unpopularity for Kishida hit a bottom. But it was not the case. Although this unpopularity is worth replacing the leader for ruling Liberal Democratic Party, Kishida still enjoy his luck of having no viable contender.   The latest poll of  Nikkei Shimbun  marked 25%, declined 6 points from January, of the approval rate of Kishida Cabinet, which was the lowest for Kishida administration. In the previous week, the poll of other newspapers also showed the lowest.  Mainichi Shimbun  reported 14% (-7) as  Yomiuri Shimbun  did 24% (±0) and  Asahi Shimbun  did 21% (-2).   The support for LDP also decreased. It was 25% (-6) in  Nikkei , 24% (-1) in  Yomiuri , 21% (-3) in  Asahi  and 16% (-7) in  Mainichi . They were th

The House of Representatives is going to have a Political Ethics Committee (PEC) to discuss the slush fund scandal in ruling Liberal Democratic Party this week. While the opposition parties required fifty-one LDP lawmakers to appear to the committee and take questions, LDP offered only five, including some leaders with Abe faction, the epicenter of scandal. LDP demands the committee to be closed to the public, inviting doubts on the words of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who insisted on taking responsibility for explanation. As Kishida decided to have the committee earlier this month, the opposition parties requested all the lawmakers who was suspected to have been involved in the scandal should answer the questions at the committee. LDP released the result of its internal investigation, which found that eighty-five members had received fund from factions as return of ticket sales beyond quota.   Fifty-one out of those eighty-five are members of House of Representatives. That is why th

A half year has passed since Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) started discharging “processed water” into the Pacific Ocean last summer. The greatest concern for Japanese government has been how much it would affect Japanese economy. According to   the survey   conducted by Kyodo News Agency, eighty percent of fishery organizations realize that they have been suffering from reputational damages, mainly affected by import ban by China. They feel that the compensation for their business is not sufficient. The survey was made to forty-two fishery co-operatives in prefectures, which are affiliated to Japan Fisheries Co-operatives. Among thirty-six organizations responded, thirteen (36%) answered that they suffered from reputational damages of discharging processed water, and sixteen (40%) were relatively did. Five (13%) were relatively not suffered from and two (5%) did not.   The organization suffered from reputational damage were concentrated in the northeastern coast of Japan. Hokkai

The government of Japan introduces news system for disclosing information about a person working with children on whether the person has history of sexual violence to child or not. In the discussion for new legislature, the government is setting twenty years of disclosure from the end of penalty. While there is a discussion on human rights for a person who has served for penalty, the government puts higher priority on the safety of children. The system is called Japanese version of disclosure and barring service (DBS), which has already been introduced in United Kingdom. In 2020, a male baby-sitter was arrested with suspicion of touching body of five-year-old girl. The court sentenced three years in prison with suspension of five years. After that incident, the organizations for supporting families with kids or parent organizations started discussion of introducing Japanese version of DBS.   In the Penal Code of Japan, a penalty is no longer effective after ten years passed from the en

Japan’s stock market, Nikkei 225, rallied on Thursday marking all-time record high of ¥39,098 in average, surpassing ¥38,915 of December 1989 in the era of bubble economy. Having suffered from prolonged stagnation, often called “lost three decades,” Japanese economy has not shown such enthusiasm as seen in the bubble era. The focus is on how long Japan will maintain current surge. The direct factor of the boost on Thursday was strong earnings of US chipmaker, Nvidia, which topped the world, exceeding Samsung or Intel. The boost of Nvidia was supported by demands related to artificial intelligence. There are various brands related to semiconductor industry in Japan’s stock market. Interested foreign investors joined the rally in Tokyo stock market, which embraces various brands of semiconductor business.   After the peak of bubble in 1989, Japan’s stock market showed a steep decline. To calm down the price of real estates, Bank of Japan introduced “total volume control,” causing burst o

Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ken Saito, accused Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) of its consecutive troubles of leaking radioactive materials in Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. The troubles revealed insufficiency of TEPCO’s risk control in the crippled nuclear facility, which is in the process of decommissioning. It is concerned that the troubles may cause further damage on the natural products in Fukushima area. There was  an accident  in the Fukushima plant on February 7 th , in which radioactive water, produced in the process of cleaning of the facility for decontamination, was leaked outside the building. TEPCO measured 72,000 count per minute of radiation and admitted a possibility that the contaminated water penetrated the ground.   Contaminated water in the Fukushima plant keeps on increasing. It is estimated to be 90 metric tons every day. Underground water, not having completely been blocked, is flowing into the site and mixed with the water for cooling

The Cabinet of Fumio Kishida submitted the Diet a bill for measures to deal with low birth rate. Calling them “different-dimensioned” measures, Kishida insists that the nationals may not have any additional payment for the policy. However, he told in the discussion of House of Representatives that everyone would be paying monthly ¥500 or less for supporting the new system. The opposition parties argue that Kishida had lied to the public.   Kishida administration released the  Children Future Strategy  last December, which listed its policies for supporting for families with child. They include coverage of college tuition for a family with three kids or more, or securing shelters for kids suffering from domestic violence. The government suppose the strategy will cover every family with a child and make workers easier to raise kids.   The strategy requires ¥3.6 trillion a year, out of which ¥1 trillion will be covered by newly-established “supporting fund.” The fund will be collected fro

The government of Japan held the Japan-Ukraine Economic Reconstruction Promotion Conference in Tokyo on Monday, with attendance of Ukrainian Prime Minister, Denys Shmyhal. Japanese Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, pledged “investment in the future” of Ukraine, expressing comprehensive economic support to Ukraine through public-private cooperation. While Ukraine welcomed Japan’s contribution to economic revitalization, even though it did not include military support, growing fatigue on supporting Ukraine may disturb private investment.   In the meeting with Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, last March, Kishida  reconfirmed  Japan’s commitment on recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine, sharing the importance of private sectors in the process. Kishida established  a team  in his Cabinet for preparing an economic conference last May. The conference was held at Keidanren Hall in Tokyo, the headquarters of Japan’s biggest association of corporate managers, with attendance of about thre

In the discussion at Committee on Budget in House of Representatives, there is an ongoing discussion that the lawmakers with Liberal Democratic Party who were involved in slush fund scandal might have committed tax evasion. The opposition parties accused of LDP’s secret fund from factions to lawmakers as possible object of taxation, if a part of it had not spent and been remaining in the lawmaker’s hand. The discussion may further generate public criticisms against the handling of political fund by LDP lawmakers. In the  discussion of the committee , one of the members of Constitutional Democratic Party argued that former LDP Secretary General, Akira Amari, had received ¥380 million of “political activities fund” from LDP during 35 days between October and November in 2021, when he was at the position of secretary general. To the question whether he had completely spent all that fund, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida insisted that he recognized that money to have properly been dealt with.

Sister of North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un unusually showed optimistic view on future relationship with Japan. Kim Yo Jong, the Deputy Director on Publicity and Information Department of Worker’s Party of Korea, expressed positive impression on the statement of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in the Diet, which expected progress in bilateral relationship with North Korea. Recognizing a possibility that the statement from the North may an attempt to drive a wedge into trilateral ties of Japan, ROK and United States, Japanese government takes note on her message. In the discussion at Committee on Budget of House of Representatives on February 9 th , Kishida stated that he would make a bold progress in the status quo of abduction issue, in which Japan has not find any breakthrough for these years. He emphasized the importance of having a summit meeting with Kim Jong Un. “I am going to make necessary decision,” he said, “and we are practically working on it” said Kishida. Kim Yo Jong

The Cabinet Office announced nominal gross domestic product (GDP) in 2023 on Thursday, which confirmed Japan’s drop from the third largest economy in the world. Although the decline of GDP could be attributed to depreciation of Japanese yen, Japanese economy has been facing decades long problem of low productivity. It is estimated that Japan will be overtaken by India within a few years. According to National Accounts of Japan released by the Cabinet Office, Japan’s nominal GDP in 2023 was ¥591 trillion, which would be equivalent to $4.21 trillion. Germany marked $4.45 trillion of GDP in the same year. It was the first case for Japan to take its position below Germany since 1967.   Although Japan overtook West Germany and occupied the second position, next to United States, of world economy in its high growth period called Izanagi boom fifty-seven years ago, China left Japan behind in 2010. While Japan kept its position of the third for thirteen years, its economy did not show a great

Liberal Democratic Party   released the result of its investigation   on slush fund scandal, in which a number of lawmakers failed in reporting political funds from factions in LDP. Although some knew that they were involved in wrongdoings, they did not stop receiving the secret money. It is still unclear who was responsible for. There is no discussion in LDP so far over imposing penalty on the lawmakers who had committed false activities in politics.   LDP investigation team on the slush fund, headed by Chairman of General Council, Hiroshi Moriyama, made interviews to 85 lawmakers or possible candidates for next election, who were affiliated to two dissolved factions, Abe and Nikai. The team also made interviews to six secretary generals of factions and policy groups, who were responsible for controlling funds.   Among 79 members of Abe faction and 6 of Nikai faction, 32 (37%) had been recognizing that the fund was distributed from the factions or pooled in their offices. 11 members o

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reportedly made up his mind to set a Special Committee on Political Ethics in the Diet. Reluctantly accepting requests of the opposition parties, Kishida decided that the leaders who had received political funds from faction or party needed to explain about the money. However, having the committee does not necessarily mean disclosing everything about the slush fund scandal, which is shaking Kishida administration.   Special Committee on Political Ethics was firstly established in both Houses in 1985, when LDP had the Lockheed Scandal in which former Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka involved. The committee discusses whether Diet members violate laws or recognize their political or ethical responsibility, and makes appropriate recommendation. The committee is held when a member of each House hopes to testify or a majority of committee members approve.   Testimony in political ethics committee is different from summoning witness. Summons to witness is exercised ba

The Nuclear Waste Management Organization of Japan (NUMO) submitted Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industries (METI) a report on the primary research for locating facility for final disposal of nuclear waste in two small towns in Hokkaido. The report recognized that those towns had geologic potential to be built the facility, regardless divided local opinions over accepting nuclear disposals. Governor of Hokkaido issued a comment that he would be against the plan of further researches.   Just like the most country in the world, Japan does not have any facility for final disposal of used nuclear fuels produced by nuclear power plants. While the government of Japan has been looking for a place suitable for building the facility to stock that waste for a long time, maybe a hundred thousand years, there appeared no local community which would be willing to accept it.   In 2020, a small town called Suttsu, located in southwest coast of Hokkaido Island, stepped forward to accept primary rese

The slush fund scandal of Liberal Democratic Party has an effect for the opposition parties to take distance from the leading coalition and reunite them. National Democratic Party announced that it would leave a framework of discussion on gasoline price with LDP and its coalition partner, Komeito. The Constitutional Democratic Party start approaching NDP with hope to rebuild the opposition power against LDP. It was March 2022 when NDP joined the trilateral talks on defrosting “trigger clause” of taxation on gasoline price. The clause is to release additional tax of ¥25 per litter on regular gasoline price when it exceeds ¥160 per litter for consecutive three months. The clause was frozen when the government needed to secure fiscal resource for reconstruction from East Japan Great Earthquake in 2011. The head of NDP, Yuichiro Tamaki, insisted to defrost the clause for consumers’ merit.   The framework of trilateral talks was so unusual for the opposition parties that the action of NDP w

It will pave the way in changing gender without any medical surgery. Tsuyama Branch of Okayama Family Court approved a person with gender identity disorder changing gender from woman to man, considering a decision of the Supreme Court last October, which determined provision of a law requiring surgery unconstitutional. The plaintiff commented on the decision that he was feeling like embarking on another life.   It was the second lawsuit for Takaquito Usui, who had been born as a woman and wanted to be officially registered as a man. He argued that the provision of Gender Identity Disorder Special Act on requirement of surgery for disabling reproduction was unconstitutional, and the Supreme Court decided that the provision did not violate the constitution in 2019.   Usui has been diagnosed as having gender identity disorder and has not have a surgery for removing ovary. It was last October when the Supreme Court changed its decision. The court found in another case that the provision wa