Society

Over 60% disagree with Abe's plan to dissolve lower house: Kyodo poll

Sep 25 (Japan Today) - Over 60 percent of Japanese voters do not support Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's reported plan to dissolve the House of Representatives later this month to call an election, a Kyodo News poll showed Sunday.

In the survey conducted over the weekend following media reports Abe plans to hold a general election on Oct. 22, 64.3 percent said they do not support the premier's drive to seek a fresh mandate, while 23.7 percent expressed support.

When asked about which party they would vote for in the proportional representation system of the lower house election, Abe's Liberal Democratic Party ranked top with 27.0 percent, compared with 8.0 percent for the main opposition Democratic Party, the poll showed.

A new party being organized by those close to Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike garnered support from 6.2 percent, followed by 4.6 percent for the Komeito party, the junior coalition partner of the LDP, 3.5 percent for the Japanese Communist Party and 2.2 percent for the Japan Innovation Party.

Some 42.2 percent said they have yet to decide which party they will vote for.

The poll also showed 78.8 percent of respondents are not satisfied with the government's explanation on favoritism allegations involving private school operator Moritomo Gakuen and university operator Kake Educational Institution, run by a friend of Abe.

Only 13.8 percent said they are satisfied with the government's explanation on the matters.

Osaka Police End 14-Hour Siege

Police in Osaka arrested a 48-year-old man on October 22nd after a tense 14-hour standoff in which he allegedly held a woman at knifepoint inside an apartment. A special tactical unit forced entry into the residence late at night, ending the standoff without injuries.

Imperial Family Pays Tribute to War Victims

The Emperor, Empress, and their daughter Princess Aiko visited the Tokyo Metropolitan Memorial Hall in Sumida Ward on Thursday afternoon, marking their first visit to the site as Japan observes the 80th year since the end of World War II. They were greeted upon arrival by Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike and other officials.

First Snow Caps Mount Fuji, 15 Days Earlier Than Last Year

The Kofu Local Meteorological Observatory announced on October 23rd that the season’s first snow had been observed on Mount Fuji, which stands 3,776 meters tall. Around 6 a.m., an official visually confirmed that snow had clearly accumulated near the summit.

Tokyo’s Aging Expressway Reborn After Major Overhaul

After nearly a decade of construction, the newly rebuilt Haneda Line of the Metropolitan Expressway, one of Tokyo’s key arteries linking the city center with Haneda Airport, has been unveiled to the media ahead of its official switch to a new road on October 29th.

New Cabinet Takes On 'Takaichi Color'

The newly launched Takaichi Cabinet moved into full operation on October 22nd, with early personnel decisions revealing a clear conservative tone. Satsuki Katayama was appointed as finance minister and Kimi Onoda as minister in charge of foreign resident policy, underscoring what observers are calling the emergence of a distinct “Takaichi color.”

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