Motegi abroad | This week in Japanese politics

The secretary-general (and candidate) tours Southeast Asia, the Bank of Japan embarks on a new era, and the Kishida government hosts talks allies and partners

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The rundown

Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Secretary-General Motegi Toshimitsu uses a trip through Southeast Asia to make the case for his candidacy, while other candidates continue to hint at their interest and Prime Minister Kishida Fumio meets with Asō Tarō again. The Constitutional Democratic Party’s (CDP) own leadership race is heating up too. Meanwhile, the Bank of Japan’s (BOJ) pursuit of monetary policy normalization took a big step forward this week, while the Kishida government delivered a forecast that it could achieve a long-elusive fiscal policy target. The Kishida government opened the week with a series of talks in Tokyo with the US, South Korea, and Quad partners, while Kishida celebrated UNESCO’s decision to recognize a controversial historical site (and the agreement with Seoul that made it possible). Plus: Koizumi Shinjirō receives his father’s blessing.

LDP leadership election

LDP Secretary-General Motegi Toshimitsu rides a Bangkok train built with Japanese financing during a tour through Southeast Asia. Source: @moteging on Twitter

Motegi Toshimitsu, in Indonesia as part of a Southeast Asian tour, met with executives from Indonesian startup GoTo and made the case for a total liberalization of ridesharing and broader regulatory reform as he continues to prepare for a bid for the LDP’s leadership. In Bangkok, he reiterated that he will make his decision by the beginning of September and, when asked whether he would step down as LDP secretary-general in accordance with a norm that sitting party executives and cabinet ministers cannot run as leadership candidates, declined to comment.

Kōno Tarō, asked about his intentions for the party leadership election in a 29 July TV appearance, said he will make his decision when the time comes, but that he is now focused on performing his duties as digital affairs minister. But Kōno also made a major concession to sentiment within the party, stating on 31 July that restarting nuclear reactors will be necessary to satisfy future electricity demands. Mainichi has described this leadership race has possibly Kōno’s “last chance” to win the party presidency.

Ishiba Shigeru has remained quiet about his intentions, but said during a TV appearance on 29 July that he supports allowing spouses to have separate surnames, stating his inability to understand claims from opponents that allowing this will “destroy the family,” a position unlikely to endear him to the LDP’s right wing. Meanwhile, during the Obon holidays, Ishiba will visit Taiwan as a part of a cross-party study trip invited by Taiwan.

Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, still in the running, met with Asō Tarō again on Friday, 2 August, one day after meeting with Finance Minister Suzuki Shunichi, a member of the Asō faction. The support of Asō and his faction will be critical for Kishida to launch a successful reelection bid.