{"id":12409,"date":"2025-01-03T07:47:10","date_gmt":"2025-01-03T07:47:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/?p=12409"},"modified":"2025-01-06T08:13:46","modified_gmt":"2025-01-06T08:13:46","slug":"japanese-politics-updates-december-15-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/japanese-politics-updates-december-15-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Japanese Politics Updates &#8211; December 15, 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"12409\" class=\"elementor elementor-12409\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e786bf5 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"e786bf5\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" href=\"https:\/\/youtube.com\/live\/_FzishcFUXA\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-63a038b elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"63a038b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/youtube.com\\\/live\\\/_FzishcFUXA&quot;,&quot;show_image_overlay&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;image_overlay&quot;:{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/2024-12-15-201.png&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:12410,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;Japanese Politics Updates, Japanese Politics One-on-One 201, December 15, 2024&quot;,&quot;source&quot;:&quot;library&quot;},&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-video\"><\/div>\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-custom-embed-image-overlay\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/2024-12-15-201.png);\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-custom-embed-play\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Play Video about Japanese Politics Updates, Japanese Politics One-on-One 201, December 15, 2024\" tabindex=\"0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-eicon-play\" viewbox=\"0 0 1000 1000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M838 162C746 71 633 25 500 25 371 25 258 71 163 162 71 254 25 367 25 500 25 633 71 746 163 837 254 929 367 979 500 979 633 979 746 933 838 837 929 746 975 633 975 500 975 367 929 254 838 162M808 192C892 279 933 379 933 500 933 621 892 725 808 808 725 892 621 938 500 938 379 938 279 896 196 808 113 725 67 621 67 500 67 379 108 279 196 192 279 108 383 62 500 62 621 62 721 108 808 192M438 392V642L642 517 438 392Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2536747f e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"2536747f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2e372aa2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2e372aa2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<p><strong>Hello and welcome to the 201st episode of Japanese Politics One-on-One! Here are the latest developments in Japanese politics:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The week closed at 153.86\u00a5\/$;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Diet passes a \u00a513.9 trillion Yen supplementary budget. LDP\/Komeito was able to accommodate the opposition to get it through. Moving-on to new business for the remaining week of this Extraordinary Diet Session;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Lower House Ethics Committee as well as the Upper Houses\u2019 Ethics Committee will now convene to question those Members implicated in the slush funds scandal;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mr. SugaIs trip to South Korea today, aiming at fostering relations that had been pretty strong but are under threat du to the current situation didn&#8217;t take place. Similarly, last week\u2019s US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin\u2019s visit didn&#8217;t happen, due to the roiling political turmoil there;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The 2026 budget is now being prepared for presentation in the new Diet of 2025. Big-ticket issues are paying for the defense budget, the tax-free income threshold, the proposed free-education and the continuation of the gasoline &amp; power subsidies.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-political-turmoil-in-south-korea-president-yoon-s-impeachment-and-its-implications\">Political Turmoil in South Korea: President Yoon&#8217;s Impeachment and Its Implications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>South Korea is experiencing political upheaval, destabilizing its role as a key ally in the Japan-US-South Korea trilateral relationship. President Yoon Suk Yeol, initially favored by the Biden administration and credited with improving relations with Japan, has faced significant challenges. After narrowly winning his election and losing legislative majority earlier this year, he became politically vulnerable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Efforts to impeach Yoon succeeded following a failed Martial Law attempt last week, with restrictions imposed on his international travel. His brief declaration of martial law 12 days ago exacerbated tensions, leading to escalating instability. The opposition party argues that Yoon&#8217;s impeachment is essential to restore order, underscoring the gravity of the situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-political-funds-reform-in-japan-a-contentious-debate-in-the-diet\">Political Funds Reform in Japan: A Contentious Debate in the Diet<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Japanese Diet is grappling with political fund reform, an issue that has taken center stage after Prime Minister Kishida pledged to revise the Political Contributions Control Act. This promise was made in response to scandals involving undisclosed slush funds within the LDP, particularly linked to the Abe faction. The proposed reforms aim to address long-standing issues through three main pillars:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Corporate Donations:<\/strong>&nbsp;The LDP, heavily reliant on corporate donations and income from study groups (<em>benkyokai<\/em>), faces scrutiny over its funding mechanisms. Opposition parties demand greater accountability and limits on these practices, which remain the foundation of LDP\u2019s financial support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Transparency:<\/strong>\u00a0One of the key reforms involves requiring reporting all political funds  publicly. Historically, LDP factions used unregulated &#8220;activity funds&#8221; provided by the party, sometimes over a million yen, without obligation to disclose how the money was spent. Reforms seek to either cap or eliminate these unreported funds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Oversight:<\/strong>&nbsp;To ensure fairness and compliance, a third-party monitoring organization is under discussion. This entity could either be formed within the Diet structure or contracted to external firms. Its role would be to audit and enforce transparency across all political parties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite Ishiba\u2019s efforts to push forward these reforms, resistance from within the LDP has been significant. While opposition parties have intensified their demands, the Diet session\u2019s limited time\u2014just one week remaining\u2014makes the passage of comprehensive reforms unlikely. Concessions granted during the passage of the Supplementary Budget may ease some immediate tensions but risk postponing the issue into the upcoming \u201825 Session.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The debate underscores growing public frustration with opaque political funding practices. If the reforms fail to meet expectations, dissatisfaction could heighten, and the issue may dominate the political agenda in the months ahead. Elections for \u00bd of the Upper House is this summer, so maneuvering is already underway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-trump-s-inauguration-invitation-to-xi-and-rising-tensions-in-the-taiwan-strait\">Trump&#8217;s Inauguration Invitation to Xi and Rising Tensions in the Taiwan Strait<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>President-elect Trump extended an invitation to Chinese Premier Xi Jinping to attend his inauguration in January, an unconventional gesture in U.S. diplomacy. Traditionally, ambassadors represent foreign nations at such events, not their heads of state. Xi has reportedly declined, likely due to political sensitivities. The invitation, seen as a calculated move by Trump, creates a no-lose situation for Trump: Xi&#8217;s acceptance or rejection each sends distinct messages, but Xi&#8217;s absence aligns with diplomatic norms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Meanwhile, tensions in the Taiwan Strait have escalated. Chinese military drills have intensified, effectively blocking the strait and creating a sense of regional unease. Although this issue has been largely underreported, its strategic implications are significant. The timing of Trump\u2019s invitation, amidst this heightened military activity, could be interpreted as an attempt to manage or mollify these tensions. However, the situation remains fraught and will likely draw greater attention in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-japan-s-extraordinary-diet-session-budget-ethics-and-political-reform\">Japan\u2019s Extraordinary Diet Session: Budget, Ethics, and Political Reform<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The extraordinary Diet session has been a pivotal period for Japan\u2019s political landscape. It began with Prime Minister Ishiba attending the G20 and APEC summits before returning to deliver a policy speech to both Diet houses. The process has since evolved through key stages, including budget deliberations, ethics inquiries, and contentious debates on political reform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a><strong>Supplementary Budget Process<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A primary focus of the session was passing the Supplementary Budget, a cornerstone of this Session\u2019s agenda. The Budget Hearings provided an opportunity for opposition and even ruling party members to challenge Ishiba and his Cabinet on various policies. Despite initial friction, this budget passed after intense negotiations, with concessions made by the LDP to secure support from opposition parties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a><strong>Ethics Committees and Slush Fund Scandals<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In response to scandals involving LDP members and the existence of a substantial, long-ongoing slush fund, both the Upper and Lower House Ethics Committees are holding hearings. These sessions aim to address violations of campaign finance rules and restore public trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Lower House:<\/strong>\u00a0Fifteen implicated members will face questioning on December 17, 18, and 19. Participation is voluntary, not under oath, and proceedings are not televised;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Upper House:<\/strong>\u00a0Twenty-three members will answer questions, with higher stakes as many face re-election next summer. The LDP has firmly stated that members who refuse to cooperate will lose party support in the upcoming elections; about half are up-for-reelection.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-political-reform-debate\"><a><\/a><strong>Political Reform Debate<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Diet has also seen intense discussions on political reform. All 10 parties have submitted competing reform bills, reflecting deep divisions on how to proceed. The LDP has resisted sweeping changes, leading to protracted negotiations that are unlikely to yield immediate results. However, the outcomes will shape public perception and political dynamics heading into the next election cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Extraordinary Session has highlighted both progress and deep-seated challenges in Japan\u2019s political system. The coming week will see critical developments, especially in Ethics Committee Hearings and on political reform, setting the stage for future debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-japanese-public-opinion-poll-results-december-update\">Japanese Public Opinion Poll Results: December Update<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Recent polling by Jiji Press provides a glimpse into the fluctuating dynamics of Japanese political support. Known for its critical stance on government performance, Jiji\u2019s survey underscores declining approval ratings and the public\u2019s general dissatisfaction with political parties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a><strong>Prime Minister and Party Ratings<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Ishiba\u2019s Approval<\/strong>\u00a0fell to\u00a0<strong>26.8%<\/strong>, a drop of 1.9 points from the previous poll.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Disapproval<\/strong>\u00a0increased to\u00a0<strong>41.8%<\/strong>, signaling growing dissatisfaction with PM Ishiba\u2019s performance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Support for major political parties remains tepid, reflecting public disillusionment:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>LDP (Liberal Democratic Party):<\/strong>\u00a019.1% (slight decline).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Constitutional Democratic Party:<\/strong>\u00a06.7%.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Democratic Party for the People:<\/strong>\u00a05.7%, suffering a drop following leader Yuichiro Tamaki\u2019s controversy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Komeito:<\/strong>\u00a04.3%.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ishin-no-Kai:<\/strong>\u00a02.5%.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Reiwa Shinsengumi:<\/strong>\u00a01.6%.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Communist Party:<\/strong>\u00a01.5%.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Smaller parties, including Sanseito, the Conservative Party, and the Social Democrats, garnered less than 1% support.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a><strong>Tamaki Controversy and Public Opinion<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Yuichiro Tamaki, leader of the Democratic Party for the People, faces scrutiny due to a personal scandal. Currently on a three-month hiatus from leadership, Tamaki plans to return by March 3, 2024. Public opinion is divided. Jiji Press reports:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>36.3%<\/strong>\u00a0believe Tamaki should resign.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>38.4%<\/strong>\u00a0support Tamaki\u2019s eventual return, viewing the scandal as minor and a temporary absence as sufficient.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>These figures reflect a cautious electorate, with many voters reserving judgment and seeking tangible leadership actions before committing support. The landscape remains volatile as parties grapple with internal challenges and public skepticism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-questions-from-the-audience-addressed-exclusively-during-the-briefing\"><strong>Questions from the Audience Addressed Exclusively During the Briefing<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Both the Biden and Trump Administrations appear to be against the Nippon Steel acquisition of US Steel, what were the errors made in the approach, and how could it have been done better?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It seems that the media sensationalized the US Steel acquisition; is this something that Japanese companies should take into account going forward?\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mrs. Akie Abe, Shinzo Abe\u2019s widow, is visiting Mar-a-Largo today, potentially to meet with Trump. For PM Ishiba, doesn\u2019t\u00a0\u00a0this highlight Ishiba\u2019s challenge in establishing his own rapport with the incoming US administration?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>There are reports that the Trump Team is proposing George Glass, former US ambassador to Portugal as the next Japan Ambassador. What are your thoughts on this?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2e500f9 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"2e500f9\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-07b9459 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"07b9459\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4071c92 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"4071c92\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a45abdb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a45abdb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>Are you familiar with \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLdFBN0Nedy2yMBKgkglb1AE_GWdKBNZUn\">Tokyo on Fire<\/a>\u201d? Episodes are available on YouTube \u201cLangley Esquire\u201d: excruciatingly-gained insights sifted over 40 years in-country! Entertainingly presented.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLD_K55pXIzjVDaktKOW32EkBCaACZz7gH\">Japanese Politics One-on-One<\/a>\u201d episodes are on YouTube \u201cJapan Expert Insights\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>If you gain insight from these briefings, consider a tailored one for your Executive Team or for passing-through-Tokyo heavyweights.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>To learn more about advocacy in Japan, read our article \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/the-dynamics-of-lobbying-in-japan\/\">Understanding the Dynamics of Lobbying in Japan<\/a>.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-91e982f e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"91e982f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b2054e9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-template\" data-id=\"b2054e9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"template.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-template\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"section\" data-elementor-id=\"7923\" class=\"elementor elementor-7923\" data-elementor-post-type=\"elementor_library\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2827954c elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2827954c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-249c62ad\" data-id=\"249c62ad\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7245daef elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7245daef\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Join the Success!<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1ec08f77 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1ec08f77\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p1\">Experience exceptional, personalized solutions designed to meet your business&#8217;s specific needs. Discover how we can elevate your operations to the next level.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-71100ba3 elementor-align-center elementor-mobile-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"71100ba3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-lg elementor-animation-grow\" href=\"\/ja\/contact\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-envelope\" viewbox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M502.3 190.8c3.9-3.1 9.7-.2 9.7 4.7V400c0 26.5-21.5 48-48 48H48c-26.5 0-48-21.5-48-48V195.6c0-5 5.7-7.8 9.7-4.7 22.4 17.4 52.1 39.5 154.1 113.6 21.1 15.4 56.7 47.8 92.2 47.6 35.7.3 72-32.8 92.3-47.6 102-74.1 131.6-96.3 154-113.7zM256 320c23.2.4 56.6-29.2 73.4-41.4 132.7-96.3 142.8-104.7 173.4-128.7 5.8-4.5 9.2-11.5 9.2-18.9v-19c0-26.5-21.5-48-48-48H48C21.5 64 0 85.5 0 112v19c0 7.4 3.4 14.3 9.2 18.9 30.6 23.9 40.7 32.4 173.4 128.7 16.8 12.2 50.2 41.8 73.4 41.4z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">CONTACT US<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hello and welcome to the 201st episode of Japanese Politics One-on-One! Here are the latest developments in Japanese politics: The week closed at 153.86\u00a5\/$; The Diet passes a \u00a513.9 trillion Yen supplementary budget. LDP\/Komeito was able to accommodate the opposition to get it through. Moving-on to new business for the remaining week of this Extraordinary Diet Session; The Lower House Ethics Committee as well as the Upper Houses\u2019 Ethics Committee will now convene to question those Members implicated in the slush funds scandal; Mr. SugaIs trip to South Korea today, aiming at fostering relations that had been pretty strong but are under threat du to the current situation didn&#8217;t take [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":12410,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[255],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12409","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.3 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Japanese Politics Updates - December 15, 2024<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In this update: All you need to know about Japanese politics; 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Here are the latest developments in Japanese politics: The week closed at 153.86\u00a5\/$; The Diet passes a \u00a513.9 trillion Yen supplementary budget. LDP\/Komeito was able to accommodate the opposition to get it through. Moving-on to new business for the remaining week of this Extraordinary&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12409","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12409"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12409\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12424,"href":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12409\/revisions\/12424"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12410"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12409"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12409"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12409"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}