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DIET

An opposition-sponsored gasoline tax cut bill is discussed in the Upper House finance committee on Saturday morning, a day before the ordinary session of parliament ends Sunday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 21, 2025
Parliament session wraps up as Upper House skips vote on gas tax bill
On Saturday, the Upper House Committee on Financial Affairs met to discuss the bill, but the meeting ended without a vote.
The Upper House during a plenary session in Tokyo on Wednesday
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Jun 20, 2025
Ishiba handles minority government well over the six-month session
With parliamentary business concluding, all eyes are on next month’s Upper House election.
Upper House lawmaker Hirofumi Yanagase in his office on June 9. Last month in parliament, he urged the criteria for naturalization to be revised.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Jun 20, 2025
Calls to make naturalization more difficult emerge in parliament talks
Naturalization requires applicants to have lived in Japan for at least five consecutive years, or half of the duration required for permanent residency.
Yoshihiko Noda, head of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, said there should not be a political vacuum amid ongoing tariff negotiations between the Japanese and U.S. governments.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 19, 2025
Main opposition CDP decides against no-confidence motion for Ishiba
CDP chief Yoshihiko Noda said that there should not be a political vacuum amid ongoing tariff negotiations between the Japanese and U.S. governments.
Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and their daughter Princess Aiko visit the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum in Itoman on June 4.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Jun 19, 2025
Parties are still arguing about the rules on imperial succession
Allowing female members to remain royalty after marriage, starting a maternal lineage, adoptions — there are a slew of ideas but a shortage of answers.
Tatsunori Ibayashi, a Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker who was removed from his post as Lower House finance committee chair, reacts after a motion of dismissal against him cleared the chamber on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 18, 2025
In a first, Lower House opposition parties unite to dismiss finance committee chair
Yukihiko Akutsu, a Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker, was chosen hours later to replace the chair in an election in the Lower House.
A video from the National Police Agency aimed at educating people about the illegality of online casinos is shown at a movie theater in Tokyo.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Jun 18, 2025
Japan revises law to ban online casino ads as it cracks down on offshore gambling
The revised law makes gambling on overseas sites explicitly illegal, allowing internet service providers and social media platforms to remove content more proactively.
Reiwa Shinsengumi deputy leader Yasuhiko Funago during a news conference at the Diet building on Tuesday
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 18, 2025
Reiwa Shinsengumi lawmaker with ALS to retire
Yasuhiko Funago, 67, said that it would be difficult for him to serve another six-year term considering his age and physical strength.
Lawmakers from the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, Nippon Ishin no Kai and the Democratic Party for the People submit a motion to dismiss the chairman of the House of Representatives' Financial Affairs Committee, on Tuesday at parliament.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 17, 2025
Opposition parties submit motion to dismiss Lower House panel chief
The motion to dismiss comes amid the panel chairman's refusal to hold deliberations on a bill to abolish the provisional gasoline tax rate.
An Upper House plenary session earlier this month. The Upper House election is likely to take place on July 20.
JAPAN
Jun 14, 2025
Upper House election likely to take place July 20
Whether the CDP will submit a no-confidence motion against the Ishiba Cabinet is set to be the main focus in the closing days of the current parliamentary session.
Parliament passed a revised pension reform bill aimed at strengthening basic pension benefits.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 13, 2025
Parliament enacts revised pension reform bill
The legislation passed the House of Councilors by a majority vote.
Kisaburo Tokai (center right), Liberal Democratic Party political reform chief, and Hiroshi Ogushi (center left), acting Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan leader, and others attend a meeting on political reform between ruling and opposition party officials at the Diet on Thursday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 13, 2025
Japan delays decision on reviewing political donations
Political reform chiefs from the parties concluded that it would be difficult to enact legislation on the review before the current parliamentary session ends.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (center right) meets with Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan leader Yoshihiko Noda (center left) in Tokyo on Thursday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 12, 2025
Ishiba on the counteroffensive in parliament’s final rush
A recent bump in approval ratings and a show of bipartisan unity have given the prime minister a boost in parliament.
Under the new law, the Science Council of Japan will be positioned as a "representative organization for Japanese scientists at home and abroad," and the government will provide necessary financial support.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 12, 2025
Japan enacts law to turn Science Council into special entity
The new law for the council, which represents the country's scientific community, will come into effect in October 2026.
A law on teachers' salaries was revised to gradually raise their pay and also help resolve the problem of long working hours, though some lawmakers say it's not enough.
JAPAN
Jun 11, 2025
Japan enacts law to gradually boost teachers' pay
The revision also requires all prefectural and municipal boards of education to draw up and publish plans to manage teachers' workloads.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks at an Upper House session in Tokyo on Monday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 9, 2025
No-confidence motion against Ishiba Cabinet could lead to double election
A double election could result in more political stability if either bloc manages to capture both chambers, or continued instability if neither holds a majority.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks during a Lower House Budget Committee meeting on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 7, 2025
Japan to hold WWII panel discussions after summer Upper House election
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's administration was considering setting up the panel as early as April.
Ishiba also called for the promotion of talks on setting up regional offices of the agency to enhance support for developing antidisaster measures tailored to the specific circumstances of each region.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 6, 2025
Ishiba eager to submit disaster agency bill next year
Ishiba called for the promotion of talks to enhance support for developing antidisaster measures tailored to the specific circumstances of each region.
A fine of up to ¥30 million will be imposed on companies that dismiss or take disciplinary action against whistleblowers under the revised law.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 5, 2025
Japan enacts bill to penalize revenge against whistleblowers
Under the revised law, individuals who discipline whistleblowers will be subject to a prison term of up to six months or a fine of up to ¥300,000.
Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and other imperial family members attend the New Year's appearance at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Jan. 2, 2020.
JAPAN
Jun 4, 2025
Japan lawmakers likely to put off decision on imperial family plan
Leaders of the House of Representatives have found it difficult to reach a conclusion before the current parliamentary session is set to end on June 22.

Longform

Growing families are being priced out of Tokyo’s condo market, forced to choose between downtown convenience and suburban space.
Is living in central Tokyo still affordable?