The budget committee gets to work | This week in Japanese politics

Debate begins in the budget committee and Ishiba's meeting with Trump is scheduled, as the future of the bilateral relationship faces significant scrutiny

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The rundown

Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru speaks in budget committee deliberations on 31 January. Source: LDP

The budget committee of the House of Representatives began debating the FY2025 budget on 31 January, following a vote in the committee to summon a key witness for questioning about the LDP’s kickback scandal. The Ishiba government is still negotiating with opposition parties to secure enough support for the budget’s passage, while the ruling and opposition parties are also working to advance competing plans for the next round of political funding reforms. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru will travel to the United States for his first meeting with Donald Trump on 7 February, while his government is hoping will produce a commitment to strengthen the US-Japan alliance further. Ahead of the summit, Defense Minister Nakatani Gen, in his first call with his new US counterpart, secured certain commitments to defense cooperation, while Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry Mutō Yōji said his ministry is assessing the potential impact of US tariffs expected to be implemented on 1 February. All of this and more, including a right-wing tabloid printing its final issue.