Koizumi hits the ground running | This Week in Japanese Politics

The new cabinet minister moves fast to combat surging rice prices, the LDP and CDP negotiate on pension reform amidst coalition speculation, and the US and Japan talk again

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The rundown

Koizumi Shinjirō, newly appointed as minister of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, is moving quickly to articulate a new approach to rising rice prices, which new inflation data shows rose 98% in April. Meanwhile, the Diet has begun deliberating on pension reform, but the real action is in talks between the ruling parties and the Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP) as they seek a compromise that would enable the legislation to pass before the Diet session ends. Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru had a long call with US President Donald Trump before trade negotiator Akazawa Ryōsei’s third round of talks — and before Trump said he would approve Nippon Steel’s purchase of US Steel. Meanwhile, Ishiba, visiting a major defense industry show in Japan, made a pitch for Japan to increase its arms exports. Plus: many looks at the implications of Koizumi’s appointment. All of this and more in a new This Week in Japanese Politics.