A new PM for Japan

**S Landreth** · 01-12-2024, 01:27 PM

Japan PM Ishiba’s Policy Speech Indicates Cautiousness toward Minority Government

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s policy speech on Friday was highlighted by remarks that indicated cautiousness toward his minority government.

While engaging with claims by some opposition parties, Ishiba is poised to go through the current extraordinary Diet session with a humble approach. He included in the speech his original ideas on issues such as regional revitalization and disaster management. However, there was the view among both the ruling and opposition parties that the prime minister did not sufficiently address political reform and overhaul of social security.

Quoted ex-PM Ishibashi

In the beginning of his speech, Ishiba quoted words from a policy speech by former Prime Minister Tanzan Ishibashi, pledging to “create a practice of always exchanging opinions frankly” and “spare no effort in cooperating with each other regarding matters on which we should work together.”

Through using quotes from a policy speech delivered on Feb. 4, 1957 — the day Ishiba was born — he expressed his hope for constructive discussions by the ruling and opposition parties.

Ishiba went on to say, “The ideal form of democracy is that each political party and group, which echoes various voices of the people, earnestly discusses policies to draw up better plans.” He stressed his intention to listen attentively to the opinions of other parties.

As Ishiba faces the first full-fledged Diet deliberations under the minority ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito, he believed that Ishibashi — a journalist-turned-politician who focused on the power of speech — could be a guiding light. Because the Ishibashi cabinet was short-lived, lasting only 65 days, there were objections within the government that quoting Ishibashi might be bad luck. Yet Ishiba, who demonstrates strong attachment to Ishibashi such as by having a complete collection of his writings, did not give in to objections, according to a senior government official.

Ishiba’s distinctiveness

In his policy speech, Ishiba presented his distinctiveness in the areas of regional revitalization and disaster management by referring to specific measures, such as taking advantage of short-time regular employees who work flexibly with a status of full-time employees as well as promoting the installment of air conditioning equipment in gymnasiums that are used as shelters for evacuees.

However, Ishiba faces the challenge of a weak internal party base. In the area of foreign affairs and security, he has withheld his signature ideas of creating an Asian version of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and revising the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement in light of a cautious view within the LDP, as he did so in his policy speech in October.

In the speech, Ishiba did not give any specifics on social security reform, an issue that has split views both inside and outside the LDP. Regarding political reform, he only vowed to hold bipartisan discussions and reach a conclusion on the matter by the end of the year.

Views on noncontroversial issues

The speech was met with criticism as Ishiba mainly presented views on issues that are unlikely to raise objections.

“It’s hard to see his vision of the nation [from his speech],” one LDP executive said. “[The speech] was full of things that the Cabinet ministers in charge of respective issues could have spoken of.”

Yoshihiko Noda, president of the largest opposition party Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, also criticized the speech, saying to reporters: “It is too shallow. I didn’t sense his ambition or resolve about political reforms.”

Yuichiro Tamaki, leader of the Democratic Party for the People seen as a key player in Ishiba’s minority government, said, “I give credit [to the prime minister] for stating a pledge to raise the threshold over the ¥1.03 million annual income barrier.”

But Tamaki added, “Unless he has the willingness to carry out the measures that must be implemented for the country’s sake, there is no way we can cooperate with him.”

Japan PM Ishiba’s Policy Speech Indicates Cautiousness toward Minority Government - The Japan News

**S Landreth** · 01-12-2024, 05:55 PM

Japan PM Ishiba aims to form broad consensus as leader of minority government

Japan's Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has started the new extraordinary session of the Diet by stressing that he intends to achieve a consensus with opposition parties. He needs to secure wider support after the ruling coalition lost its majority in last month's Lower House election.

In his policy speech on Friday, Ishiba said the coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito will carefully listen to opinions from other parties, and sincerely and humbly work to form as broad a consensus as possible to protect the safety and security of the people.

On diplomacy and national security, Ishiba said the government will hold dialogue with other countries to maintain a rules-based international order.

He expressed willingness to hold frank discussions with US President-elect Donald Trump. Ishiba says he wants to raise the countries' alliance to a higher level.

He also pledged to drastically improve Japan's ties with South Korea by frequently holding summit talks. The countries will mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year.

As for China, Ishiba says the government will try to communicate with the country on every level to build what he calls constructive and stable relations.

Ishiba denounced North Korea's abductions of Japanese citizens as a violation of national sovereignty, and said resolving the issue is the government's top priority.

He also pledged a shift to a growth-oriented economy driven by wage hikes and investment.

The ruling and opposition blocs have been discussing whether to raise the threshold for income tax to encourage people to increase their take-home pay by working more.

At present, part-time workers have to pay income tax when their annual income exceeds 1.03 million yen, or roughly 6,900 dollars.

Ishiba said the so-called "1.03 million yen wall" will be discussed and raised as part of tax reforms in fiscal 2025.

Some local governments oppose raising the threshold, because it would lead to lower tax revenues.

As for political reforms in the wake of the LDP's money scandals, Ishiba said the government will go back to the starting point of "politics is for the people."

Ishiba concluded his speech by saying that support from the public boosts diplomacy and domestic politics more than anything else. He said the government will work with honesty and sincerity to win people's trust.

Japan PM Ishiba aims to form broad consensus as leader of minority government | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News

**S Landreth** · 02-12-2024, 11:18 AM

Japanese prime minister’s portfolio outpaces stock benchmark

Japan’s prime minister Shigeru Ishiba may be flailing as a politician and a diplomat, but as an investor he is a standout who has outperformed Japan’s stock benchmark in recent years.

Ishiba’s portfolio of individual stocks is up by about 102 per cent since the start of 2020, according to analysis by Nomura Securities, far exceeding the broader Topix, which is up 60 per cent over that period.

The prime minister has also outpaced all of the members of his cabinet, including the finance minister Katsunobu Kato, whose portfolio was up 83 per cent, and economy minister Yoji Muto, who was up 53 per cent.

Ishiba, who was narrowly re-elected as prime minister following a snap election, has battled low popularity and unflattering headlines, with the latest polls showing just 31 per cent approve of his cabinet. He was recently spotted falling asleep in parliament and missed a photo with other world leaders at the Apec summit in Brazil this month.

The prime minister, who is said to be obsessed with military equipment, holds seven stocks, including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kawasaki Heavy Industries, two of Japan’s biggest defence contractors, which have soared since Japan said in 2022 that it would double its defence budget as a proportion of GDP.

His holdings also include Nippon Steel, which is embroiled in a heavily politicised, multibillion-dollar takeover bid for US Steel.

Nomura’s analysis followed the publication last week of the asset holdings by members of Ishiba’s cabinet. The disclosure requirement dates from the 1970s, when then-prime minister Kakuei Tanaka was arrested in a bribery scandal involving aerospace manufacturer Lockheed and several prominent Japanese companies.

Japanese cabinet ministers are banned from trading in equities, real estate and other assets while in office, and Nomura analysts found that the ministers’ portfolios remained roughly the same since 2020. They also compared Ishiba’s current portfolio to his 2016 disclosure, when he was last a cabinet minister, and found it largely unchanged.

The analysis found that, tracking average returns on equity portfolios since 2020, five cabinet ministers had outperformed the Topix, seven had underperformed and two had roughly tracked the benchmark. The analysis focused primarily on holdings of larger companies, and included stocks held by cabinet ministers’ spouses.

The most dismal stockpickers in the cabinet included the minister for health, labour and welfare, the arm of government ultimately responsible for the $1.45tn Government Pension Investment Fund, the world’s largest pool of retirement savings.

Nomura equity strategist Tomochika Kitaoka said that, given successive administrations’ efforts to encourage Japanese households to move their cash savings into risk assets, it was important for the cabinet to walk the walk as individual investors.

He noted that former prime minister Fumio Kishida, who announced his resignation in August, held no stocks at all.

However, Kitaoka said investors should not have “excessive expectations” about stocks owned by cabinet members, given the constraints on their trading activity.

An official in the prime minister’s office declined to comment on Ishiba’s stock portfolio, but noted that promoting Japan as an asset management centre was among the new administration’s policies.

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**S Landreth** · 03-12-2024, 10:22 AM

Congratulatory Letters from Prime Minister Ishiba to President of the European Council Costa and President of the European Commission von der Leyen

On December 1st, Mr. ISHIBA Shigeru, Prime Minister of Japan, sent congratulatory letters to H.E. Dr. António Luís Santos da Costa, President of the European Council, and H.E. Dr. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission on their appointment respectively.

In these letters, Prime Minister Ishiba extended his congratulations on President Costa’s and President von der Leyen’s appointments as the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission. He also stated that Japan and the EU are strategic partners who uphold the free and open international order based on the rule of law, and are addressing together various challenges faced by the international community, and that the relations between Japan and the EU have become closer than ever before as the Japan-EU Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) will enter into force in January next year, building upon the steady implementation of the Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). Prime Minister Ishiba also stated that he is looking forward to coordinating with the EU on tackling various global challenges.

Congratulatory Letters from Prime Minister Ishiba to President of the European Council Costa and President of the European Commission von der Leyen (Speeches and Statements <br>by the Prime Minister) | Prime Minister's Office of Japan

**S Landreth** · 04-12-2024, 03:28 PM

Japan watching South Korean situation with grave concern

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Wednesday that Japan is carefully watching the situation in South Korea, following the temporary declaration of martial law, with "particular and grave" concerns.

Ishiba, who has been considering a visit to South Korea next month for a summit with President Yoon Suk Yeol, told reporters, "nothing specific has been determined" about his trip.

Japan's relations with South Korea, long fraught with difficulties stemming from Japan's wartime aggression and territorial disputes, have thawed since Yoon took office in 2022 as he has sought to improve ties by taking a forward-looking approach.

"We have been monitoring (developments) since the overnight declaration of martial law with particular and grave concerns," Ishiba told reporters, adding that he is not in a position to comment on South Korea's domestic affairs.

"We will do our utmost to ensure the safety of Japanese people in South Korea," he said.

Yoon, recently facing sluggish public approval ratings, abruptly declared martial law late on Tuesday to rein in what he described as "anti-state" activities, sending shockwaves through the nation and beyond.

While the declaration was lifted hours later, Yoon's move still drew immediate criticism from lawmakers and locals, who viewed it as anti-democratic and triggered calls for his resignation.

Ishiba, who took over from Fumio Kishida as prime minister in October, has stressed the importance of maintaining momentum toward improved ties between the key U.S. allies in East Asia.

As next year marks the 60th anniversary of the normalization of bilateral ties, Ishiba has been considering making a trip to South Korea in early January to sit down with Yoon, diplomatic sources said earlier.

"Depending on how the situation unfolds, it may impact (the trip plan)," a senior Japanese Foreign Ministry official said.

Three-way cooperation with the United States has become all the more important due to North Korea's nuclear and missile development. Yoon has taken a tougher stance on Pyongyang than his predecessor.

"Defense cooperation with South Korea as well as coordination among Japan, South Korea and the United States are extremely important for our country's security," Defense Minister Gen Nakatani separately told reporters.

Japanese businesses are also keeping close tabs on the situation while gathering updates.

The Asian neighbors have seen an uptick in interactions, with South Korea among popular destinations for Japanese tourists and vice versa.

Japan Airlines Co., which, along with All Nippon Airways Co., operates flights linking the two countries, said it is prepared to "consider necessary measures immediately" however the situation develops.

Fast Retailing Co. said around 130 Uniqlo casual clothing shops it operates in South Korea will remain open as usual.

Japanese officials expressed hope that there will be no further problems in South Korea, with one concerned that the latest developments could upend the recent improvement in ties between the two nations.

"Japan and South Korea have been trying to develop bilateral ties by overcoming difficulties so we hope that the political situation will be calm and stable," a senior government official said.

Japan vigilant after South Korea's martial law sows chaos

**S Landreth** · 05-12-2024, 06:21 PM

Ishiba Says Willing to Revise Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Pact

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Wednesday he is still committed to revising the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement.

At a plenary meeting of the House of Councillors, the upper parliamentary chamber, Ishiba said he has already instructed his Liberal Democratic Party to discuss how to change the pact.

The discussions are aimed at "strengthening the Japan-U.S. alliance's deterrence and response capabilities, enhancing its sustainability and improving the trustworthiness of U.S. forces in Japan," he noted.

In response to criticisms that Ishiba changed mind after pledging to revise the agreement during the ruling party's leadership race in September, he said, "The LDP is not absolutistic, so it will come up with concrete conclusions on my campaign proposals through serious talks."

On the issues of allowing married couples to select separate surnames and legalizing same-sex marriages, Ishiba expressed certain sympathy for those who are struggling with the status quo. But the prime minister did not go further than saying he will closely monitor parliamentary debates.

Ishiba Says Willing to Revise Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Pact | Nippon.com

**S Landreth** · 06-12-2024, 11:34 AM

Japan-Sweden Summit Meeting

On December 4, 2024, Prime Minister Ishiba held a summit meeting and other events with H.E. Ulf KRISTERSSON, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Sweden at the Prime Minister's Office.

The two leaders attended a salute and guard of honor ceremony, followed by a summit meeting. Afterwards, the leaders held a working dinner.

Japan-Sweden Summit Meeting (The Prime Minister in Action) | Prime Minister's Office of Japan

**S Landreth** · 06-12-2024, 02:56 PM

Japan PM Ishiba Says Corporate, Group Donations ‘Not Inappropriate’; Interpellations Start at Lower House

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who is also the president of the Liberal Democratic Party, said Monday that the LDP did not consider donations from companies and organizations to be “inappropriate,” during the first day of interpellations from party representatives at a plenary session of the House of Representatives. The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and other parties are calling for a ban on such donations in connection with the Political Funds Control Law reform.

CDPJ leader Yoshihiko Noda said, “Why is the ban on donations from companies and organizations, which is the main issue of the reform, not being put on the debate topic?” The CDPJ has been criticizing the donations as a “hotbed for corruption.”

Noda also demanded that the LDP lawmakers who failed to record funds they received in their political funds reports attend the lower house’s Deliberative Council on Political Ethics. In response, Ishiba said, “I am urging them to fulfill their accountability in light of the situation they find themselves in.”

Japan PM Ishiba Says Corporate, Group Donations ‘Not Inappropriate’; Interpellations Start at Lower House - The Japan News

**S Landreth** · 07-12-2024, 04:26 PM

Former Japan PM Kishida Worried Upheaval in Seoul May Hurt Ties

“Political stability in South Korea is crucial for advancing Japan-South Korea relations,” Kishida said in an interview with Bloomberg on Thursday after a stunning move by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to impose and later revoke martial law.

Kishida, who left office in September, formed a warm relationship with Yoon over frequent meetings, sometimes in casual settings over drinks. Ties between the nations became as close as they have been in recent decades, leading to a range of cooperation, including the creation of a system to directly share real-time information about North Korean missile launches.

Three-way coordination with the US also progressed and President Joe Biden hosted a summit meeting for the countries at Camp David in August last year. Under new Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, another three-way summit was held in November this year on the sidelines of an APEC summit meeting in Peru.

Kishida made some symbolic moves to help reconciliation, including a joint visit last year with Yoon to a memorial in Hiroshima to the Korean victims of the 1945 nuclear attack on the city.

Before the political crisis sparked by Yoon’s shock move this week, he had already faced criticism domestically for sidelining Koreans who continue to seek apologies and reparations from Japan for its colonization of the Korean Peninsula from 1910 to 1945. Japan says all claims were settled in a 1965 treaty that normalized relations between the countries.

South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, a favorite to replace Yoon if the president is forced out, on Thursday described Japan as having a “predatory relationship” with South Korea.

Kishida declined to discuss internal South Korean politics but said cooperation was needed to deal with global challenges such as conflicts, disease and climate change.

“As the country closest to us I think we need to make efforts to support the relationship,” he said.

Former Japan PM Kishida Worried Upheaval in Seoul May Hurt Ties

**S Landreth** · 08-12-2024, 02:24 PM

Japan and U.K. to Prepare for Economic 2+2 in Tokyo in 2025; Economic Ministers Agree on Continued Cooperation on Trade

Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya met with U.K. foreign secretary David Lammy on Monday during a visit to Rome and expressed his desire to prepare for the first ever Japan-U.K. economic two-plus-two ministers’ meeting in Tokyo as early as possible next year.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer agreed to establish an economic two-plus-two between the countries during a bilateral summit in Brazil on Nov. 18. The aim is to promote cooperation in matters of trade and economic security.

During the Monday meeting, Lammy declared that he would like to collaborate with Iwaya to further strengthen Japan-U.K. relations, which he said are already very good.

The two ministers also confirmed that Japan and the United Kingdom will continue to collaborate on economic matters, as the Protocol on the Accession of the United Kingdom to the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) is due to take effect next month. Both ministers also reaffirmed the importance of the cooperative development of next-generation fighter aircraft by the U.K., Japan and Italy.

The ministers exchanged views on regional affairs such as the advancement of Russia-North Korea military cooperation and the situations in Ukraine and the Middle East, and agreed they would continue to work together closely.

Japan and U.K. to Prepare for Economic 2+2 in Tokyo in 2025; Foreign Ministers Agree on Continued Cooperation on Trade - The Japan News

**S Landreth** · 09-12-2024, 01:51 PM

Japan delivers detailed broadcast on South Korea's political situation

The Japanese archipelago is closely watching President Yoon's address to the nation and the National Assembly's vote on the impeachment motion.

It has been reported that Prime Minister Ishiba has effectively canceled his plan to visit Korea next month.

Let's connect to Tokyo.

Reporter Hwang Jin-woo, how was the reaction from the Japanese media today (Dec. 7)?

[Report]

Yes, major Japanese media outlets are reporting on Korea's political situation as a major news story throughout the day using broadcasts and digital platforms.

Japan's national broadcaster NHK live-streamed President Yoon Suk Yeol's address to the nation this morning with simultaneous interpretation, analyzing the significance of the address and the direction of the political situation.

They detailed parts of the address, including the delegation of political stability measures to the ruling party and remarks from People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon about the unavoidable early resignation.

Simultaneously interpreting KBS's special new coverage, NHK broadcast the situation in the Korean National Assembly across Japan for 45 minutes starting at 6 PM.

Additionally, they extended their usual 30-minute 7 PM news to one hour, dedicating 40 minutes to the coverage of the impeachment vote proceedings.

Japanese media are analyzing that President Yoon has effectively lost his governing power.

There is a focus on the potential impact of this situation on future Korea-Japan relations and the Korea-U.S.-Japan cooperation system.

The Mainichi Shimbun particularly described this as the most difficult-to-understand event in Korean history.

It appears that Prime Minister Ishiba has canceled his plan to visit Korea next month.

**S Landreth** · 09-12-2024, 04:34 PM

PM Ishiba's vehicle rear-ends police car in western Japan

The vehicle carrying Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba rear-ended a police car Sunday in Tottori Prefecture, western Japan.

Ishiba was not injured, according to government officials. At around 10:30 a.m. the prime minister's vehicle apparently hit the security police car that had stopped for a red light at an intersection.

The motorcade remained at the scene for several minutes before continuing to Tottori airport, from where the prime minister returned to Tokyo.

In Tottori, his hometown, Ishiba visited the grave of his parents and also stopped by his birthplace.

PM Ishiba's vehicle rear-ends police car in western Japan

**S Landreth** · 10-12-2024, 12:19 PM

Ishiba Vows to Spur LDP Debate on Dual Surname Option

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Monday that he will urge a working group within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to speed up discussions on the introduction of a selective dual surname system for married couples.

"I will urge them to increase the frequency and maturity of discussions," Ishiba told a parliamentary meeting after Natsumi Sakai of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan called for the early introduction of such a system.

On Monday, the Diet began deliberations on a 13,943.3-billion-yen supplementary budget bill for fiscal 2024 to finance the Ishiba administration's first comprehensive economic policy package. The government and the ruling parties aim to get the budget bill enacted as early as Dec. 17.

The supplementary budget "needs to be larger than last year's to make steady progress toward overcoming deflation," Ishiba said.

The prime minister emphasized that the extra budget will help secure necessary funds for aid to areas affected by the Noto Peninsula earthquake in January 2024.

Ishiba Vows to Spur LDP Debate on Dual Surname Option | Nippon.com

**S Landreth** · 11-12-2024, 10:54 AM

Courtesy Call on Prime Minister Ishiba by U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (Summary)

On December 10, 2024, commencing at 5:30 pm, for approximately 25 minutes, Prime Minister ISHIBA Shigeru, received a courtesy call from the Honorable Lloyd Austin, Secretary of Defense of the U.S. The overview of the courtesy call is as follows.

Prime Minister Ishiba welcomed the visit of Secretary Austin to Japan and expressed gratitude for his past contribution to strengthening the Japan-U.S. Alliance as Secretary of Defense. The Prime Minister also stated that Japan and the U.S. must work together to further strengthen the deterrence and response capabilities of the alliance, in order to realize a Free and Open Indo-Pacific amidst the increasingly severe security environment.
Secretary Austin reaffirmed that the importance of the Japan-U.S. Alliance has never been greater than ever. Secretary Austin stated that he wishes to strengthen bilateral coordination to realize a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.
Both sides exchanged views on Japan-U.S. security and defense cooperation for strengthening the deterrence and response capabilities of the Alliance, bearing in mind the increasingly severe regional security environment. Both sides concurred to continue efforts for upgrading the command and control of the Alliance, promoting defense equipment and technology cooperation, and strengthening the network of like-minded countries.

Courtesy Call on Prime Minister Ishiba by U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (Summary) (Diplomatic Relations) | Prime Minister's Office of Japan

**S Landreth** · 11-12-2024, 06:02 PM

Banning Political Donations Could Violate Constitution: Ishiba

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Tuesday that an opposition-proposed ban on donations from companies and other organizations could violate Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of assembly and association as well as speech, press and all other forms of expression.

"Companies also have freedom of expression," Ishiba told a House of Representatives Budget Committee meeting, adding that it does not matter whether the donor is an individual or a legal entity.

The prime minister again denied that political parties agreed to abolish corporate donations when the political party subsidy system was established in 1994. "The government at that time did not have a policy of banning (such donations)," he said. "It was a common understanding among all lawmakers then."

Akira Nagatsuma, acting head of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, claimed that Yohei Kono, then president of the Liberal Democratic Party, had a plan to ban corporate donations five years after the subsidy system was introduced.

Ishiba avoided a clear response to the claim, saying, "It is of course possible for companies to use donations to express their will."

Banning Political Donations Could Violate Constitution: Ishiba | Nippon.com

**S Landreth** · 12-12-2024, 12:16 PM

Japan PM Ishiba Stresses Importance of Nuclear Deterrence While Commenting on Nihon Hidankyo’s Nobel Peace Prize

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba stressed the importance of nuclear deterrence while congratulating Nihon Hidankyo (Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations) on receiving the Nobel Peace Prize.

“Their efforts to speak out over the years in favor of nuclear abolition have been rewarded,” he said, speaking at a House of Representatives Budget Committee meeting on Tuesday. He added, “Countries possessing nuclear [weapons] such as North Korea, China and Russia surround [Japan], so we are working hard to enhance the effectiveness of extended deterrence.”

His argument seemed to be that extended deterrence based on the U.S. nuclear umbrella is indispensable amid the worsening security environment surrounding Japan.

Meanwhile, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said at a press conference on Tuesday, “It is the mission of our country, the only nation hit by atomic bombs during a war, to lead the international community’s efforts toward a world without nuclear weapons.”

The government is aiming to pursue both nuclear deterrence and an end to nuclear weapons. However, it has taken a cautious approach to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which comprehensively bans the development and use of nuclear weapons. Hidankyo has called for Japan to sign the treaty.

Since the nuclear-armed states have not joined the treaty, the government has placed more weight on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which does have the participation of these states. The prime minister said at the Budget Committee that it would be extremely difficult for Japan to join the prohibition treaty, since doing so could mean to reject the idea of the U.S. nuclear umbrella.

Regarding Japan’s participation as an observer in the Meeting of States Parties to the TPNW in March next year, Ishiba said, “We will think about how we can play a role.”

Germany, which is under the U.S. nuclear umbrella, has participated in the meeting as an observer, and the government intends to analyze the reason for Germany’s participation.

But there is also a strong sense of caution within the government. One senior foreign ministry official said that if Japan becomes an observer, it might then be asked to become a formal participant.

Japan PM Ishiba Stresses Importance of Nuclear Deterrence While Commenting on Nihon Hidankyo’s Nobel Peace Prize - The Japan News

**S Landreth** · 13-12-2024, 04:26 PM

Japan Lower House Passes FY 2024 Extra Budget

Japan’s House of Representatives on Thursday passed the government’s supplementary budget bill for fiscal 2024, which will finance the first comprehensive economic policy package compiled under the administration of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.

At a plenary meeting of the lower chamber of the Diet, the extra budget bill, which calls for general-account spending of ¥13,943.3 billion , was approved by a majority vote with support from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its Komeito ally, as well as the Democratic Party for the People and Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Innovation Party).

The ruling bloc now aims to push the budget bill through the House of Councillors on Tuesday. The Upper House’s Budget Committee will hold question-and-answer sessions with all cabinet members on Friday and Monday.

Thursday’s Lower House passage came after the budget bill was revised to reflect the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan’s proposal to increase funding for restoration and reconstruction projects in areas on the Noto Peninsula in central Japan that were hit by a massive earthquake on Jan. 1 and a heavy rain disaster in September.

It is the first time in 28 years that a budget bill has been revised in the Lower House.

The DPFP supported the extra budget bill after the ruling coalition accepted its proposals to raise the minimum taxable annual income from ¥1.03 million and to eliminate the extra gasoline tax rate.

Nippon Ishin and the ruling parties, meanwhile, agreed earlier on Thursday to begin talks on its proposal for free education.

The CDP voted against the budget bill because another of its demands was not included.

Japan Lower House Passes FY 2024 Extra Budget - The Japan News

**S Landreth** · 14-12-2024, 07:41 AM

Japan's Ishiba Keen on Asian Version of NATO

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Tuesday again voiced his eagerness to establish an Asian version of NATO.

The deterrence provided by the United States has relatively weakened, Ishiba said of the East Asian security environment at a meeting of the Budget Committee of the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of Japan's parliament.

"How we maintain the balance of power (in the region) is an obvious question we should be asking when thinking about military affairs," he said.

While admitting that there are constitutional interpretation issues over collective defense, Ishiba stated, "Deciding from the very start that (collective defense) shouldn't be allowed is just giving up thinking."

On the recently adopted economic package, Ishiba said that the central government will facilitate moves to reflect rising prices and labor costs in public procurement contracts between local governments and companies.

Japan's Ishiba Keen on Asian Version of NATO | Nippon.com

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