Parliament at Standstill, Focus on Prime Minister Takaichi's Decision - Clash over Two Ishin Bills Reaches Critical Point

Parliament at Standstill, Focus on Prime Minister Takaichi's Decision - Clash over Two Ishin Bills Reaches Critical Point With less than two weeks left in the Diet session, the focus is on whether Prime Minister Takaichi will respond to the opposition's demands for intensive deliberations and party leader debates. The opposition is making the abandonment of the two Ishin-backed bills—on seat reduction and sub-capital establishment—a condition for deliberations on the Imperial House Law amendment, intensifying the ruling-opposition conflict. Even within the LDP, voices are calling for the prime minister to soften her stance. 1234

Former PM Ishiba Criticizes Consumption Tax Cut: 'Not the LDP Way' Former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on the 5th criticized the Takaichi administration's planned consumption tax reduction on food and beverages, saying the funding source is unclear. 'If you don't show how much revenue will be lost and how to compensate for it, that's not the LDP's way of policy-making,' he said, cautioning against ad hoc policies. 5

Fukuoka Prefectural Assembly Members Gave 27.5 Million Yen to LDP Executives Upon Becoming Speaker and Vice Speaker Two current members of the Fukuoka Prefectural Assembly testified that they handed a total of 27.5 million yen in cash to executives of the LDP prefectural assembly group upon assuming the positions of speaker and vice speaker. They said the executives demanded the money under pretexts such as 'golf expenses for socializing with other factions,' and audio recordings exist. The executives deny making such demands. 6

Tokyo's Chofu Mayoral Election: LDP-Endorsed Hayashi Wins First Term, First Change in 24 Years The Chofu City mayoral election in Tokyo was held on the 5th, and independent newcomer and former Tokyo metropolitan assembly member Akihiro Hayashi (65), endorsed by the LDP, won his first term. He replaces the 6-term, 24-year administration of Nagatomo. Key issues included measures against rising prices, child-rearing support, and redevelopment of former base sites. Voter turnout was 43.67%, higher than the previous election. 7

Fukuoka's Tagawa Mayoral Election Announced: Four Candidates Including Former Mayor Who Resigned Over Sexual Harassment Four independent candidates have filed, including former mayor Takuya Murakami, who resigned after being found to have sexually harassed a female employee. Issues include harassment measures, rebuilding the aging city hall, and regional cooperation. Voting and counting will take place on the 12th.

Fire in Tokyo's Nakano Ward Burns 7 Houses, 2 Completely Destroyed, One Injured On the afternoon of the 4th, a fire broke out in a residential area of Honcho, Nakano Ward, Tokyo. A total of 7 houses, including 2 completely destroyed, covering about 225 square meters, were burned. A man in his 40s suffered minor leg injuries. The Metropolitan Police Department and Tokyo Fire Department are investigating the cause.

15-Year-Old Falls from Unlicensed Motorcycle with Two Riders, Dies; 16-Year-Old High School Student Arrested On the evening of the 4th, on an overpass in Chuo Ward, Tokyo, a female student (15) fell from the rear seat of a motorcycle driven by an unlicensed male high school sophomore (16) and was hit by a following car, dying. The male student fled without providing aid but turned himself in on the 5th and was arrested. He stated, 'I panicked because of the accident.' 89

Executives of 'One of Asia's Largest Criminal Organizations' Re-arrested for Illegal Residence Cards A joint investigation headquarters of the Metropolitan Police Department and Osaka Prefectural Police on the 5th re-arrested suspect Hu Shi (44), believed to be a top executive of the Prince Group, and others on suspicion of violating the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act. They are suspected of using residence cards under other people's names to complete seal registration procedures. Hu is believed to have aimed to obtain permanent residency. 10

Noto's 'Abare Matsuri' Festival Reaches Climax with Portable Shrines Thrown into River and Burned The 'Abare Matsuri' festival in Noto Town, Ishikawa Prefecture, reached its climax from late on the 4th to early on the 5th. In this traditional event, portable shrines are thrown into a river and set on fire with torches. Local residents and spectators celebrated, praying for recovery from the Noto Peninsula earthquake.