{"id":4930,"date":"2021-04-21T02:59:07","date_gmt":"2021-04-21T02:59:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/?p=4930"},"modified":"2021-05-09T02:10:45","modified_gmt":"2021-05-09T02:10:45","slug":"japan-politics-now-april-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/japan-politics-now-april-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"Japan Politics Now &#8211; April 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"4930\" class=\"elementor elementor-4930\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4f25e7c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4f25e7c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2672c81\" data-id=\"2672c81\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\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-d55bdeb elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"d55bdeb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"402\" src=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/MicrosoftTeams-image-768x402.png\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-4863\" alt=\"Japan Politics Now April\" srcset=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/MicrosoftTeams-image-768x402.png 768w, https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/MicrosoftTeams-image-300x157.png 300w, https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/MicrosoftTeams-image.png 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\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-92e6af0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"92e6af0\" 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<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><i>April 2021<\/i><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9b45086 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9b45086\" 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>The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is moving forward with its plan to set up a \u201cChildren\u2019s Agency,\u201d an organization intended to centralize decision-making on issues related to children\u2019s welfare. The party said it would include the issue on its platform for the next lower house election, which must occur by this fall.<\/p><p>The Children\u2019s Agency would be meant to address issues such as waiting lists for daycares, bullying, domestic abuse, child poverty and so on. Currently responsibility for these issues is spread across the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the Ministry of Education, Sports, Science and Technology, and the Cabinet Office.<\/p><p>Like the Digital Agency, the idea of consolidating dispersed government services into an ad hoc organization fits the Suga administration. The new organization would be another example of the administration trying to break down the stove-piping that has hindered administrative reform. A Children\u2019s Agency would also tackle issues that more directly affect a large number of people, so it may prove to be electorally popular. However, like the Digital Agency, the legal processes to create a new organization will prove challenging, and the affected government agencies will likely resist ceding any authority to a new agency.<\/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-5d68066 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"5d68066\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\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<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e17eb73 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e17eb73\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-827b622\" data-id=\"827b622\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6f2ce17\" data-id=\"6f2ce17\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\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-56e8c14 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"56e8c14\" 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\">Want to Stay Informed?<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d988277 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d988277\" 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>Sign up for monthly updates on the latest political developments impacting your industry in Japan:<\/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-50ca16a elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"50ca16a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Begin Mailchimp Signup Form -->\n<link href=\"\/\/cdn-images.mailchimp.com\/embedcode\/classic-10_7.css\" rel=\"stylesheet\" type=\"text\/css\">\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t#mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; 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left: -5000px;\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><input type=\"text\" name=\"b_954360333b636e024b53d2772_88fae57ba5\" tabindex=\"-1\" value=\"\"><\/div>\n    <div class=\"clear\"><input type=\"submit\" value=\"Subscribe\" name=\"subscribe\" id=\"mc-embedded-subscribe\" class=\"button\"><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/form>\n<\/div>\n<script type='text\/javascript' src='\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/downloads.mailchimp.com\/js\/mc-validate.js'><\/script><script type='text\/javascript'>(function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]='EMAIL';ftypes[0]='email';fnames[1]='FNAME';ftypes[1]='text';fnames[2]='LNAME';ftypes[2]='text';fnames[6]='MMERGE6';ftypes[6]='text';fnames[5]='MMERGE5';ftypes[5]='text';fnames[7]='MMERGE7';ftypes[7]='text';fnames[3]='ADDRESS';ftypes[3]='address';fnames[4]='PHONE';ftypes[4]='phone';}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true);<\/script>\n<!--End mc_embed_signup-->\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1a0343c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1a0343c\" 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><a href=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/privacy-policy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Privacy Policy<\/a><\/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<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-003244d\" data-id=\"003244d\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\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<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-30d3732 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"30d3732\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-af6e89c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"af6e89c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-17d9cce\" data-id=\"17d9cce\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\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-67e1dd6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"67e1dd6\" 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>While the plan may prove popular, it faces a number of obstacles. Most significantly, the COVID-19 pandemic is still not under control in Japan, and the government\u2019s vaccine rollout has been relatively slow. Any further deterioration in public health conditions, or a collapse of the medical system, would overshadow the creation of a new government organization. Additionally, the LDP group in charge of establishing the new agency is headed by LDP Secretary-General Nikai Toshihiro. As perhaps the most representative member of the LDP old guard, Nikai may not prove to be a particularly charismatic communicator on issues related to children\u2019s welfare.<\/p><p>If the vaccine program proceeds as expected, however, COVID-19 numbers should be falling as autumn approaches. That would set the stage for the LDP to highlight other topics, and children\u2019s welfare is invariably popular. The opposition parties, perhaps sensing this, have asked the LDP to work with them as it moves forward in creating the new organization. But as long as it has the support of its junior coalition partner Komeito, it is not clear that the LDP has much incentive to work with its political opponents.<\/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-1ec02df elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1ec02df\" 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<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><b><u>Domestic Politics:<\/u><\/b><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f6e67ec elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"f6e67ec\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7535200 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7535200\" 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\">LDP Group Prepares Bill Promoting Understanding of LGBT Issues<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8b87874 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8b87874\" 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>An intra-party group headed by Inada Tomomi (LDP) within the LDP has prepared draft legislation calling on the government to \u201cbroaden understanding\u201d of LGBT issues and lifestyles. The group called on both ruling and opposition parties to pass the bill during the current Diet session.\u00a0<\/p><p><i><span style=\"color: #b31b1b;\">Langley Insight<\/span>:<\/i> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public opinion polls have shown that support for LGBT issues, such as same-sex marriage, has grown steadily, including among LDP supporters. The LDP\u2019s bill is not particularly ambitious &#8212; the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party previously proposed banning discrimination by government organizations &#8212; but it represents the ruling party\u2019s first attempt to address LGBT issues at the national level. If politicians drag their feet, they risk looking inefficient as local and prefectural governments move ahead with partnership arrangements and other measures. Some in the LDP still oppose greater support for LGBT individuals, worried that it may alienate socially conservative voters and ideals.<\/span><\/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-bc2ed36 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"bc2ed36\" 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\">Komeito \u2018Completely in Favor\u2019 of Separate Surnames for Spouses<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4e8af7b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4e8af7b\" 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>Yamaguchi Natsuo (Komeito), leader of the LDP\u2019s junior coalition partner, said at an event in Tokyo that Komeito is \u201ccompletely in favor\u201d of allowing spouses to have separate surnames. He added that a policy allowing for separate names was not in place because of opposition from the LDP. The law requires that spouses share a surname, and in most cases women adopt their husband\u2019s name.<\/p><p><i><span style=\"color: #b31b1b;\">Langley Insight<\/span>:<\/i> The surname issue has become symbolic of broader gender disparities in Japan, and opinion polls show that a majority of Japanese support allowing for different names. With the LDP\u2019s coalition partner voicing its support of a change, the ruling party may face more pressure to come up with its own unified position. This would put it in something of a dilemma &#8212; allow for separate names and risk alienating its conservative supporters, or stick with its base and risk seeming out-of-touch. The LDP currently has a working team collecting opinions on the topic from party members.<\/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-7f8b9ea elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7f8b9ea\" 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\">Chiba Voters Reject LDP in Gubernatorial Election<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-feb993e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"feb993e\" 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>Kumagai Toshihito emerged victorious in Chiba Prefecture\u2019s gubernatorial election in March, the first winner in 12 years who has not belonged to the LDP. <\/p><p><i><span style=\"color: #b31b1b;\">Langley Insight<\/span>:<\/i> Kumagai\u2019s victory was aided by poor coordination between local LDP organization and the national headquarters, as well as restrictions on large gatherings because of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it also represents voters\u2019 displeasure with various scandals that have involved LDP politicians flouting COVID-related regulations and improper socializing with ministry bureaucrats. His win also increases the importance of by-elections in Hiroshima and Nagano prefectures on April 25. If the LDP fails to win at least one of those, the Suga administration\u2019s electoral prowess will come into question.<\/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-f52db28 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f52db28\" 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\">LDP Endorses Ishin-Backed Candidate for Hyogo Governorship<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b534871 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b534871\" 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>The LDP has endorsed Saito Motohiko, who had already received the support of the opposition Nippon Ishin no Kai, for the Hyogo governorship. Rather than fielding its own candidate as recommended by the Hyogo prefectural LDP, the national headquarters chose to join Ishin in supporting Saito. Saito welcomed the LDP\u2019s endorsement.<\/p><p><i><span style=\"color: #b31b1b;\">Langley Insight<\/span>:<\/i> Although Ishin is a part of the opposition, it has a significant degree of ideological overlap with the LDP, especially on regulatory and economic issues. It is highly unlikely that Ishin would join the ruling coalition, but the national LDP may be looking to peel Ishin away from the rest of the opposition to gain its support for policy initiatives like the Suga administration\u2019s Digital Agency.<\/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-5fb7595 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5fb7595\" 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\">Lower House Election Unlikely Before Autumn<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8d72e8c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8d72e8c\" 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>Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide set off a spate of speculation on a television program that he may dissolve the House of Representatives after his meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden. However, subsequent comments and the recent spike in COVID-19 cases have effectively taken the option of a snap election before fall off the table.<\/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-e663685 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e663685\" 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<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><b><u>Foreign Affairs:<\/u><\/b><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cf1e01b elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"cf1e01b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"496\" height=\"336\" src=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/000080987.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-4939\" alt=\"Photograph of the Japan-U.S. joint press conference (5)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/000080987.jpeg 496w, https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/000080987-300x203.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 496px) 100vw, 496px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">\u00a9 Prime Minister Suga and President Biden - https:\/\/www.kantei.go.jp\/<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\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-0c26a38 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"0c26a38\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-72d285b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"72d285b\" 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\">Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide Meets with U.S. President Joe Biden in Washington\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-80afbb7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"80afbb7\" 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>Prime Minister Suga flew to Washington to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden, the first foreign leader to meet with the U.S. leader in person since his administration was inaugurated in January. The joint statement released after the meeting highlighted \u201cthe importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait,\u201d as well as the human rights situations in Hong Kong and Xinjiang.<\/p><p><i><span style=\"color: #b31b1b;\">Langley Insight<\/span>:<\/i> Suga is the first leader to meet in person with the U.S. president, an honor usually reserved for the prime minister of the U.K. The change is meant to signal the U.S. administration\u2019s focus on Asia and its support for the U.S.-Japan alliance after the turbulent foreign policy of President Donald Trump. For Suga, the diplomatic upgrade is likely to pay some political dividends as most Japanese, and LDP members in particular, support strong U.S.-Japan relations. It is unlikely, however, that Suga will receive a significant enough boost to call a general election, and the fate of his administration beyond fall remains unclear.<\/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-80caa04 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"80caa04\" 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\"><b>Cabinet Approves Decision to Dump Fukushima Wastewater into Sea<\/b><\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2b56aab elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2b56aab\" 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>The Cabinet finalized a decision to discharge wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the ocean, drawing protests from China and South Korea. The water has been treated to remove most contaminants, according to Tokyo Electric Power Company, but the utility is unable to remove tritium, a radioactive form of hydrogen. The decision, which is deemed necessary for the continued decommissioning of the plant, is supported by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The IAEA said it is ready to provide technical support and monitoring, and that the plan is \u201cin line\u201d with international standards. Seoul is considering filing a protest at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.<\/p><p><i><span style=\"color: #b31b1b;\">Langley Insight<\/span>:<\/i> The reactions in Beijing and Seoul likely stem from political rather than scientific concerns. The South Korean government had previously determined the release would not pose any scientific issues, and the amount of tritium in the treated water is similar to that released from South Korea\u2019s own nuclear plant. The governments in Beijing and Seoul are likely looking to rally political support by criticizing the decision, especially after South Korean President Moon Jae-in\u2019s political party was routed in mayoral elections in South Korea\u2019s two biggest cities. Japanese fishermen in the Fukushima have also protested the decision, so it is uncertain whether international criticism will provide a \u201crally-around-the-flag\u201d effect for the Suga administration.<\/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-ab2b607 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"ab2b607\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-04633c1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"04633c1\" 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<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><b><u>NHK Polling:<\/u><\/b><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d6ea833 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"d6ea833\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2dc55c5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2dc55c5\" 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>The drop in the Suga Cabinet\u2019s support appears to have bottomed out, and it is experiencing a modest rebound. At the same time disapproval appears to have plateaued. Japan\u2019s vaccine rollout is proceeding slowly, but if inoculation numbers ramp up by fall, the public may be more forgiving of the government\u2019s slow start.<\/p><p>Cabinet: 44% support (+4pp), 38% do not support (+1pp)<br \/>Parties: LDP 37.4%, CDP 6.3%, Komeito 4.1%, Ishin 1.5%, JCP 2.7%, DPP 0.7%<\/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-63fd552 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"63fd552\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"592\" src=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Capture-de\u0301cran-0003-04-21-a\u0300-13.44.58-1-1024x592.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4934\" alt=\"NHK Poll April\" srcset=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Capture-de\u0301cran-0003-04-21-a\u0300-13.44.58-1.png 1024w, https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Capture-de\u0301cran-0003-04-21-a\u0300-13.44.58-1-300x174.png 300w, https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Capture-de\u0301cran-0003-04-21-a\u0300-13.44.58-1-768x444.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\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-a6c5787 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"a6c5787\" 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<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-19ed7fb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"19ed7fb\" 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>Langley Esquire provides a full range of<a href=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/government-affairs\/\"> government &amp; public affairs consulting services<\/a>, including policy and media monitoring, stakeholder mapping, and government relations. 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post-4914 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-politics category-public-affairs category-public-policy tag-cryptocurrency tag-data tag-defense tag-healthcare tag-japanese-government tag-japanese-politics tag-ldp tag-olympics-2 tag-osaka tag-politics-in-japan tag-public-policy tag-technology\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__card\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/public-policy-updates-april-2021\/\" tabindex=\"-1\" ><div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"157\" src=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/MicrosoftTeams-image-300x157.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-4923\" alt=\"Policy Radar April 2021\" srcset=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/MicrosoftTeams-image-300x157.png 300w, 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Firms\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>In June the Japanese Diet passed legislation governing the creation and management of smart cities \u2014 urban centers that use cutting-edge technology to improve livability and convenience.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/japans-smart-cities-promise-new-tie-ups-with-high-tech-firms\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Japan\u2019s Smart Cities Promise New Tie-Ups with High-Tech Firms\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-date\">\n\t\t\t2020\u5e7410\u670813\u65e5\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\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","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In Japan Politics Now, we aim to bring you Japan\u2019s latest political developments, both foreign and domestic, and explain in brief why they matter. <\/p>","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":4863,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","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":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","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":[255,17,393],"tags":[1880,149,145,1874,1776,1029,1879,986,147],"class_list":["post-4930","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics","category-public-affairs","category-public-policy","tag-fukushima","tag-japanese-government","tag-japanese-politics","tag-jcp","tag-komeito","tag-ldp","tag-lgbt","tag-politics-in-japan","tag-public-policy"],"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>Japan Politics Now - April 2021 - Langley Esquire Government Relations &amp; Public Affairs: Getting the impossible done in Japan<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In Japan Politics Now, we aim 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