Lower House Seat Reduction Bill Abandoned for Current Diet Session, Focus Shifts to Imperial House Law Amendment

LDP, Japan Innovation Party, and DPFP Agree on Early Passage of Imperial House Law Amendment Prime Minister Takichi of the LDP, Representative Yoshimura of the Japan Innovation Party, and the leader of the Democratic Party for the People met and agreed to aim for the swift passage of the Imperial House Law amendment bill. The ruling party has abandoned the passage of the Lower House seat reduction bill in the current Diet session and is shifting its focus to the Imperial House Law amendment and the sub-capital bill. 123

Lower House Seat Reduction Bill Postponed from Current Diet Session to Autumn Extraordinary Session In their meeting, the leaders of the LDP and Japan Innovation Party confirmed a policy to abandon the passage of the Lower House seat reduction bill in the current Diet session (scheduled to end July 17) and aim for its passage in the autumn extraordinary session. The opposition parties are demanding the withdrawal of both bills (seat reduction and sub-capital), and the path to normalizing the Diet remains unclear. 23

Chinese Coast Guard Vessels Approach Japanese Fishing Boats Off Senkaku Islands, Exchanges of Blame Between Japan and China Four Chinese Coast Guard vessels entered Japan's territorial waters around the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture and approached Japanese fishing boats operating there. The Japan Coast Guard ordered them to leave, but China countered that the Japanese fishing boats had entered its own territorial waters, heightening tensions between the two countries. 4

Elderly Medical Care Co-Payment Rate Not Specified as '30% in Principle'; Ruling Party to Set Roadmap Within Year The government and ruling party have decided not to specify a change from the current '20% in principle' to '30% in principle' for the out-of-pocket co-payment rate for elderly medical care. They plan to compile a ruling party roadmap within the year, postponing specific system design. 5

Nursing Home Lethal Injection Case: Former Employee Sentenced to 20 Years, One Charge Acquitted The Mito District Court sentenced former employee Megumi Akama (40), charged with murder for injecting air into the IV drips of two residents at a nursing home in Koga City, Ibaraki Prefecture, to 20 years in prison, acquitting her on one charge and convicting her on another. The prosecution had sought life imprisonment. 6789

Three Men Arrested on Suspicion of Paid Organ Transplant Brokerage in Cambodia The Metropolitan Police Department and others arrested three men, including the de facto operator of the 'International Medical Consultation Office,' on suspicion of violating the Organ Transplant Law for brokering organ transplants in Cambodia to patients and receiving compensation. This is the first nationwide crackdown on paid brokerage for overseas organ transplants. 10

Father Arrested for Killing First-Grade Daughter and 3-Year-Old Son in Isesaki, Gunma: 'Pessimistic About Future' Toshinori Inoue (42), arrested for murdering his first-grade daughter (6) and 3-year-old son at their home in Isesaki City, Gunma Prefecture, has reportedly stated that he was 'pessimistic about his health and the family's future.' Inoue had been on leave from work since January and was reportedly worried about income. 11

Four High School Students Sent to Prosecutors for Throwing Firecrackers at Police Box in Miyagi, Calling It 'Cop Tag' Miyagi Prefectural Police sent four male high school students from the prefecture to prosecutors on suspicion of forcible obstruction of business for throwing firecrackers at a police box in Natori City, interfering with police officers' duties. The four reportedly stated their purpose was 'cop tag' (playing tag with police) and had posted videos on social media. 12

Shizuoka Prefecture Approves Construction of Japan's Linear Chuo Shinkansen, Progressing Toward Completion The governor of Shizuoka Prefecture has decided to approve the start of construction for the Linear Chuo Shinkansen. With long-standing environmental concerns, such as the water resource issue of the Oi River, resolved, construction work for the early opening of the Tokyo-Nagoya section is expected to move into full swing. 13