The momentum shifts | This Week in Japanese Politics

Pension legislation moves, cheaper rice arrives, and trade talks continue

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I spoke with River Davis of the New York Times for an article about the politics of Japanese debt.

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The rundown

The Ishiba government’s position improved this week as the deal with the Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP) on pension reform led to the Diet’s passing the bill on Friday. The compromise reduced the risk of a no-confidence motion. Meanwhile, even as retailers began selling reduced-price rice from government stockpiles, Democratic Party for the People (DPFP) leader Tamaki Yūichirō had to apologize for a belittling comment about the rice, contributing the perception of the DPFP’s fading fortunes. The US and Japan held their fourth round of trade talks, with trade negotiator Akazawa Ryōsei suggesting that progress has been made though there are few tangible signs of a breakthrough. Plus: China may be ready to relax its import restrictions on Japanese fisheries. All of this and more in a new This Week in Japanese Politics.