27,000 People Protest in Front of the Diet, Voices of Opposition to Takai Administration

Prime Minister Takai: 'Challenges Invite Criticism,' States Resolve at Abe Memorial Rally Prime Minister Sanae Takai stated at a memorial rally for former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the 11th, 'A country that does not take on challenges, even in the face of criticism, has no future,' and emphasized achievements such as the abolition of arms export restrictions and the establishment of the National Intelligence Bureau. 1

Typhoon No. 9 Injures 15 in Okinawa, Temporarily Cuts Power to 27,000 Households Typhoon No. 9 made its closest approach to Okinawa Prefecture on the 11th, injuring 15 people and causing power outages for up to 27,000 households. Damage spread, including in Miyakojima City where two women were swept away by high waves and nearly drowned. 2

'Protest Against Messed-Up Politics': 27,000 People at Protest in Front of the Diet Called by the citizens' group 'WE WANT OUR FUTURE,' a protest against the increase in defense spending and expansion of arms exports was held on the 10th in front of the Diet, with approximately 27,000 participants. Participants chanted 'Protect our livelihoods' and 'Protect the Constitution.' 3

Final Stage of Diet: Focus on Passage of Sub-Capital Bill With less than a week left until the end of the extraordinary Diet session on the 17th, following the revision of the Imperial Household Law, the fate of the ruling party's bill related to the 'sub-capital' concept has become the biggest focus. The LDP Secretary-General called on opposition parties for cooperation. 4

Consumption Tax Reduction Debate Stalls, National Council to Resume on the 13th The National Council on Social Security, which had been suspended due to the Diet's deadlock, will resume on the 13th. In response to the chairman's proposal to reduce the consumption tax rate on food to 1% for a limited two-year period, criticism from opposition parties has intensified, saying 'prices won't drop' and 'tax increase after two years,' and a dual-perspective presentation is also being considered. 5

Self-Proclaimed 'Japan's Top Influencer' to Face Verdict for 150 Million Yen Tax Evasion A verdict will be handed down on the 15th at the Tokyo District Court for defendant Reika Kuroki, representative of an advertising agency, on charges of evading approximately 157 million yen in corporate taxes and other taxes. In the trial, she explained that 'sales were higher than expected and my awareness of tax payment was lax.' 6

JAXA's Reusable Rocket Experimental Vehicle RV-X Succeeds in First Flight The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) conducted the first flight test of the reusable rocket experimental vehicle 'RV-X' on the 11th in Noshiro City, Akita Prefecture, successfully achieving a vertical ascent to an altitude of about 11 meters and landing. The results will be applied to future core rocket development. 7

LDP Proposes Priority Listing of Women on Proportional Representation Lists The LDP's 'Women and Elections Project Team' has compiled a proposal to increase the proportion of female Diet members to 30%, calling for priority listing on the proportional representation list for the House of Representatives election and promoting the nomination of female candidates in the House of Councillors election. It will be reported at a party meeting on the 13th. 89

Fukushima Daiichi Treated Water Tank Alarm: Operations Resume After Valve Replacement Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) replaced the valve suspected to be the cause of an alarm that occurred in the treated water tank group at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant on the 11th, and resumed circulation and agitation operations. The company states that there is no impact on the leakage of treated water or the discharge plan. 10