Ishiba contends with a contentious Diet | This week in Japanese politics

Leading lawmakers debate, the government discusses investment, and no date for Ishiba's meeting with Trump yet

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The rundown

In this mid-week edition of “This Week in Japanese Politics,” party leaders debate the government’s priorities for new ordinary session of the Diet in the lower and upper houses. Meanwhile, the budget committee’s review of the government’s draft budget was delayed when the ruling and opposition parties failed to reach an agreement over summoning a key witness to face questioning about the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) slush fund scandal. In economic policy, Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru hosted a forum to discuss plans to increase private investment, called for pension reform legislation, and appointed a new member of the Bank of Japan’s policy board, while his finance minister held an introductory call with his new US counterpart. Ishiba still does not have a date for his first meeting with Donald Trump, but an agenda may be taking shape. All of this and more, including interviews with Kōmeitō’s leader and a former ambassador to the United States, in “This Week in Japanese Politics.”

Politics

Ruling and opposition party leaders in both houses delivered their replies to Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru’s policy speech.

Towards a pleasant Japan?

CDP leader Noda Yoshihiko responds to the prime minister’s policy speech on 27 January. Source: CDP

Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP) leader Noda Yoshihiko expressed his discomfort at Ishiba’s “pleasant Japan” slogan, noting the disconnect between the challenges at home and abroad and the shallowness of the phrase. He questioned Ishiba about the direction of US-Japan cooperation, expressing concern at the Trump administration’s decisions to withdraw the US from the World Health Organization (WHO) and Paris climate accord; pressed his party’s argument for banning corporate political donations; challenged the government on its failure to achieve a primary fiscal surplus in its FY2025 budget; and called for the Diet to enable spouses to use separate surnames.

LDP Secretary-General Moriyama Hiroshi delivers the party’s response to the prime minister. Source: LDP

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Secretary-General Moriyama Hiroshi, meanwhile, also asked Ishiba to talk more about what he meant when he said his aim was to achieve a “pleasant Japan” and asked the prime minister for clarity on his approach to the United States. Ishin no Kai co-leader Maehara Seiji questioned the prime minister about social security reform and the need to shift benefits to younger generations. (Noda’s statement; Moriyama’s statement)

In response to these queries, Ishiba said that he intends to meet with Donald Trump in February and will discuss strengthening the relationship; rejected banning donations but said that the goal should be greater transparency; and reiterated the main points of his policy speech. Noda lamented following the debate that the prime minister’s replies avoided addressing the issues in detail.