Waiting for the election(s) | This week in Japanese politics

Motegi campaigns as the Trump whisperer, Kishida hosts Pacific island leaders, and Kōno steps out of line on the yen

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A personal note

For those who remember the old days of Japanese politics blogging, you may remember Garrett DeOrio, who was a prolific Tokyo-based blogger and podcaster. I was saddened to learn this week that in March Garrett was hit by a truck while biking with his six-year-old son. His son survived, but Garrett suffered extensive injuries and remains in a coma. I always enjoyed talking with Garrett, whose interests were wide-ranging, whose curiosity was insatiable, and who was always so good natured. His family is seeking help with their expenses during this difficult time, and has set up a Gofundme. I hope that you will all consider a donation.

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Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Secretary-General Motegi Toshimitsu is making the case that he is the best man to handle a second Trump administration ahead of the September leadership election, while Ishiba Shigeru is trying to walk the line between expressing loyalty to the prime minister and preparing his own leadership bid. Meanwhile, a scandal-tainted LDP lawmaker quits the party and leadership change comes to the Tokyo LDP. Within the Kishida government, Kōno Tarō backpedals after some careless remarks about the Bank of Japan, and Prime Minister Kishida Fumio hosts a summit with the leaders of Pacific island nations. Plus: Japanese stars will collide in MLB’s 2025 opener in Tokyo.

LDP leadership campaign

LDP Secretary-General Motegi Toshimitsu speaks in Niigata prefecture. Screenshot by author

Motegi Toshimitsu appears to be stepping up his campaign for the LDP leadership election. This week, the LDP secretary-general has delivered multiple speeches arguing that, with the likelihood of a second Trump administration rising, it will be important to manage the bilateral relationship smoothly – and reminding audiences that Trump praised him as “tough” in the bilateral US-Japan trade negotiations. Given his vulnerabilities as a candidate, running as the “Trump whisperer” is probably Motegi’s best argument.

Even as Ishiba Shigeru has edged closer to entering the LDP leadership race, he has continued to defend Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, saying in a TV appearance on Saturday, 20 July that “it’s not really fair to say that everything is Kishida’s fault.” Earlier this week, he suggested that the prime minister or defense minister needs to take responsibility for the scandals in the defense establishment.

The LDP’s general council will fill out its election administration committee by the end of the month, after which the party will determine when the LDP’s leadership election will be held and when the campaign will begin. There is debate within the LDP over how long the campaign should be. Lawmaker Shiozaki Akihisa has proposed a longer campaign period than the customary twelve days.

Politics

Former defense minister Onodera Itsunori addresses an LDP defense policy meeting on 16 July. Source: LDP

The LDP and Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP) agreed on 19 July to convene a recess meeting of the national security committee of the House of Representatives to address the scandals in the Ministry of Defense (MOD) and Self-Defense Forces (SDF). Earlier in the week, a meeting of the LDP’s defense policy specialists concluded that although the misconduct is serious, it did not compromise the operations of the Self-Defense Forces. CDP leader Izumi Kenta, however, is calling for Defense Minister Kihara Minoru to resign.