The great rice debate | This Week in Japanese Politics

The Diet and the LDP discuss rice policy, Ishiba threatens a snap election, and Akazawa prepares for another trip to Washington

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The rundown

The upper house debated rice policy, as the Ishiba government seeks a balance between consumers and producers, as well as a broader national interest in food security. Meanwhile, as the Diet session enters its final weeks, Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru let slip a warning that if the opposition submits a no-confidence motion, he will preempt a vote by calling a snap election. Over the weekend, Ishiba conferred with trade negotiator Akazawa Ryōsei about his latest talks with the Trump administration and as he prepares for the next round of talks later this week. Defense Minister Nakatani Gen spent the weekend talking with his counterparts on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. Plus: a call for revising Japan’s three non-nuclear principles. All of this and more in a new This Week in Japanese Politics.

The week ahead

Bank of Japan (BOJ) Governor Ueda Kazuo will deliver public remarks on Tuesday, 3 June.

South Korea will hold its presidential election on Tuesday, 3 June.

The upper house will begin its deliberations on the revised pension reform bill on Wednesday, 4 June.

Trade negotiator Akazawa Ryōsei will travel to Washington for the fifth round of bilateral talks on Thursday, 5 June.

BOJ Deputy Governor Uchida Shinichi will deliver a speech to Japan Society of Monetary Economics on Saturday, 7 June.