Revision bill of the National Referendum Act passes the House of Representatives; ruling coalition aims to propose constitutional amendment during the current Diet session

Revision bill of the National Referendum Act passes the House of Representatives; ruling coalition aims to propose constitutional amendment early The revision bill of the National Referendum Act passed the House of Representatives on the 19th with a majority vote from the ruling coalition and the centrist reform alliance. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) holds two-thirds of the seats in the House alone, and together with its coalition partner Ishin, accounts for three-quarters, but in the House of Councillors cooperation from parties actively seeking constitutional revision is essential. 1

LDP considers amendments to the Vice Capital Bill, but Ishin shows reluctance, making coordination difficult The LDP is considering revisions to the Vice Capital Bill, which it aims to pass during the current Diet session together with Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party), due to internal opposition. Because the bill's supplementary provisions include an expansion of the scope of the referendum on the Osaka Metropolis Plan, and concerns have been raised about a possible violation of Article 92 of the Constitution, the LDP leadership has deemed amendments unavoidable. 2

Prime Minister Takaichi responds to opposition questions on defamatory video issue: "I conducted fact-checking to the best of my ability and answered sincerely" Returning from the G7 summit, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi faced questions from the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) at a House of Councillors plenary session on the 19th regarding allegations of involvement in creating defamatory videos during the LDP presidential election. The Prime Minister stated that while she cannot deny the possibility that her secretary participated in an online meeting with a man connected to the video creator, she explained that her secretary was not involved. 34

Fire at elementary school in Tokyo's Kita Ward, starts near music room, 10 children and staff injured On the morning of the 19th, a fire broke out on the fourth floor of Takinogawa Dai-San Elementary School in Kita Ward, Tokyo, burning 200 square meters of the school building. Approximately 330 people were inside, and a total of 10 people were injured—seven children who inhaled smoke, two teachers, and one child who fell—but none are in life-threatening condition. 5

Tropical depression in the Mariana Islands to develop into Typhoon No. 7, may approach the Sakishima Islands around the 24th According to the Japan Meteorological Agency's 9:00 p.m. report on the 19th, a tropical depression in the Mariana Islands is expected to develop into Typhoon No. 7 within 12 hours. It is then expected to become a strong typhoon and may approach the Sakishima Islands in Okinawa Prefecture on the 24th. 6

Large cargo ship runs aground off Toshima in the Izu Islands; no injuries among 17 crew, no timeline for recovery Early on the 19th, the cargo ship "Niraikanai II," traveling from Osaka to Tokyo, ran aground off Toshima in the Izu Islands. None of the 17 crew members were injured, and no hull damage or oil spill has been confirmed, but there is no timeline for recovery. 7

Government's draft of "Women's Grand Policy Guidelines" revealed; targets doubling the proportion of female engineering students The government's draft of the "Priority Policy on Women's Empowerment and Gender Equality," to be finalized soon, has been revealed. Pointing out the lack of female participation in AI and semiconductor fields, the draft sets a target to double the proportion of female students in university engineering departments from 18% in 2025 to 36% by 2040. 8

Prosecution indicates it will not argue for guilt in retrial of Hino Town case; significant step toward acquittal In the retrial of the Hino Town incident in Shiga Prefecture, the Otsu District Public Prosecutors Office stated at a three-party meeting on the 19th that it will not argue for the guilt of Hiroshi Sakahara, whose life sentence was finalized. The prosecution had said it would re-examine evidence and respond during the retrial. 9

Woman stabbed to death in public housing in Fukuoka's Higashi Ward; arrested woman says "We argued and I got angry and stabbed her" In the incident early on the 18th where Saya Takahashi was stabbed to death in a public housing unit in Higashi Ward, Fukuoka City, the arrested suspect Akio Fujimoto has reportedly stated, "We argued and I got angry and stabbed her." The two were friends, and police are investigating the motive while treating the case as murder. 10

Person with a weapon reported in Shinkansen at JR Omiya Station; police detain individual, no injuries On the afternoon of the 19th, a report was made of a person carrying a weapon inside a Shinkansen train stopped at JR Omiya Station, and police detained an individual believed to be connected. No injuries have been confirmed so far. 11

Government drafts outline for securing the number of imperial family members; includes respect for adoptee's will, seeks approval at plenary meeting The government has compiled a draft outline for securing the number of imperial family members, including provisions to respect the will of imperial family members who become adoptees. It aims to gain approval at a government plenary meeting, advancing institutional preparations for stable imperial succession. 12

LDP and three other parties submit bill on flag desecration to the House of Representatives; Ryukyu Shimpo editorial calls for its rejection as "clearly unconstitutional" The LDP, Nippon Ishin, the Democratic Party for the People, and the Party of Political Participation jointly submitted a bill on flag desecration to the House of Representatives. An editorial in the Ryukyu Shimpo newspaper argues the bill violates the constitutional guarantee of freedom of expression and calls for its rejection. 13

Tokai Shinkansen halts operations for about three hours due to a person accident at Hamamatsu Station, affecting approximately 140,000 people On the evening of the 19th, a person who entered the tracks at Hamamatsu Station on the Tokai Shinkansen was struck by the Nozomi 49 train, causing all lines to suspend operations for about three hours. This affected approximately 140,000 passengers, but regular service resumed from the first train on the 20th. 14