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DIET

The Lower House Judicial Affairs Committee approves legislation to introduce a new training scheme for foreign workers on Friday.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
May 17, 2024
Japan parliamentary panel OKs bill on training foreign workers
It will replace the foreign technical intern program with a new training scheme to allow foreigners to work in Japan for the medium to long term.
Toshihiro Nikai, former secretary-general of the Liberal Democratic Party, announced in March that he would not run in the next Lower House election to take responsibility for the political funds scandal that rocked his party and his own faction.
JAPAN / Politics
May 17, 2024
Son of LDP heavyweight Toshihiro Nikai to run in Lower House election
Nobuyasu Nikai's decision to throw his hat into the ring also has larger implications for the Liberal Democratic Party.
Legislation that allows the option of joint custody of children after divorce is passed at the Upper House plenary session on Friday.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
May 17, 2024
Japan changes law to allow joint custody after divorce
For decades in Japan, one parent — almost always the mother — has been granted legal custody when a marriage ends.
The Upper House passes a security clearance bill on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
May 10, 2024
Japan's parliament enacts new economic security clearance bill
The new law will work in conjunction with an existing law on the protection of specially designated secrets.
Japan’s custody system may soon change with the introduction of joint custody, though issues like a lack of protection against domestic violence and abuse must also be tackled.
COMMENTARY / Japan
May 10, 2024
Joint custody alone won’t fix Japan’s flawed system
Japan could be on the verge of adopting joint custody. While to some this is a step in the right direction, it may not be enough to protect families.
Executives of opposition parties meet in the parliament building on Tuesday to discuss their stance over the political funds scandal in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
JAPAN / Politics
May 9, 2024
Japan's opposition parties ask for ethics panel review of 44 lawmakers
The review would have no binding power, however, and the decision of whether to attend will be left up to the lawmakers.
Taro Aso (center), vice president of the Liberal Democratic Party, hands the party's proposals for securing a sufficient number of imperial family members to Lower House Speaker Fukushiro Nukaga (left) at the parliamentary building on April 26.
JAPAN
May 8, 2024
Interparty talks on shrinking imperial family may start next week
The talks are likely to focus on retaining female imperial family members after marriage and adopting male relatives.
The Lower House starts discussing a security clearance bill on April 19 in Tokyo.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
May 7, 2024
Unlike 10 years ago, Japan's new security bill sparks little debate
Some point to a shift in the nation’s security stance, while opposition party lawmakers indicate a general apathy among the media to cover the story.
Kenta Izumi, head of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, speaks at a news conference at the Parliament building last month.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
May 7, 2024
Japan opposition seeks snap election, but united front proving elusive
Despite the calls, questions remain over whether opposition parties will be able to join hands against the LDP in the next Lower House general election.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida attends a news conference in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Saturday.
JAPAN / Politics
May 5, 2024
Kishida, fresh off Latin America visit, vows to zero in on political funds reform
Grappling with record-low approval ratings, the prime minister hopes to amend the Political Funds Control Act during the current session of parliament.
Officials of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito hold talks on the revision of the Political Funds Control Law in the parliamentary building on April 24.
JAPAN / Politics
May 3, 2024
LDP eyes more disclosure on fundraising ticket buyers
The LDP is currently examining the idea of lowering the threshold for the mandatory disclosure from ¥200,000 per buyer per fundraising party.
A ceremony for the Self-Defense Forces' newly created cyberdefense force at the Defense Ministry in Tokyo in March 2022
JAPAN
May 1, 2024
Japanese government skips submitting active cyberdefense bill
The government planned to set up a panel of relevant experts in May, but this plan is now uncertain.
LDP Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi (center) speaks to reporters as election strategy committee chair Yuko Obuchi (left) and Deputy Secretary-General Hiroshi Kajiyama look on at party's headquarters in Tokyo on Sunday night.
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 28, 2024
Main opposition CDP sweeps three Lower House by-elections in blow to LDP
The results were seen as a setback for Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and could accelerate talks within the LDP about his political future.
Voters listen to a speech by a candidate for a Lower House seat in the upcoming Tokyo No. 15 district by-election.
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 23, 2024
CDP-backed candidates seen leading in all three Japan by-elections
Candidates backed by the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan are in the lead ahead of three by-elections.
A bill to tackle the low birthrate is passed at a Lower House plenary session on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 19, 2024
Lower House approves bill aimed at tackling low birthrate
The government plans to start collecting the fees in fiscal 2026 and gradually increase the amounts to secure ¥1 trillion annually from fiscal 2028.
Japan's parliament has enacted a bill to ease restrictions on Nippon Telegraph and Telephone, including lifting a ban on being able to appoint non-Japanese directors.
JAPAN
Apr 17, 2024
Japan enacts revised NTT law
NTT will be allowed to allocate less than one-third of the seats in its board of directors to foreign nationals.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida arrives for a tour of a new Toyota battery factory in Liberty, North Carolina, on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 13, 2024
Kishida touts U.S. visit success, saying snap election not on his mind
The prime minister, who is due to fly back on Saturday, will be hoping the diplomatic success can translate into a bump in his low approval ratings.
Emperor Naruhito at Meiji Shrine in Tokyo on Tuesday
JAPAN
Apr 11, 2024
Japan to launch full-scale talks over shrinking imperial family
Japan's ruling and opposition parties are set to start talks on measures to address the shrinking number of imperial family members.
Author Hirotada Ototake declares his candidacy for the April 28 House of Representatives by-election in the Tokyo No. 15 constituency during a news conference in Tokyo Monday.
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 8, 2024
Japanese author Ototake to run in Lower House by-election
Ototake, who was born without arms or legs, says he wants to "help people in need through the power of politics."
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at a meeting of the Lower House Cabinet Committee on Friday
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 5, 2024
Kishida denies ex-PM Mori's involvement in LDP fund scandal
Many believe that Mori was involved in the scandal, as he had previously served as head of the Abe faction.

Longform

Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
A boom for business tourism in Japan?