Society

Suga to dissolve Diet mid-September and delay LDP race, report says

Sep 01 (Japan Times) - Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga intends to dissolve the Lower House of parliament in mid-September after a reshuffle of the ruling party executive and his Cabinet next week, the Mainichi newspaper said late Tuesday, citing senior government sources.

Suga will delay the Liberal Democratic Party leadership contest originally slated for Sept. 29 until after the general election, said Mainichi, adding that the premier is considering holding the election on Oct. 17.

The report comes after several days of tense negotiations and sudden twists involving Suga and the most powerful politicians in the ruling camp as the unpopular prime minister maneuvers to stay in the top job.

Earlier on Tuesday, media said Suga planned to replace a long-term party ally who was instrumental in helping him succeed Shinzo Abe last September, Toshihiro Nikai, in the key party post of secretary-general.

Some parliamentarians have voiced their unease with the amount of power wielded by Nikai, 82, who has held the post, with control over campaign funds, since August 2016 — the longest in the party’s history.

Suga’s rival for the party leadership, former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, angered Nikai after he proposed limits on executive posts and promised to promote young and middle-level lawmakers over heavyweights last week.

Over 300 New Geoglyphs Discovered by Yamagata University in Nazca

Yamagata University, which has been conducting research on the Nazca geoglyphs in Peru, announced the discovery of over 300 new geoglyphs, depicting a variety of subjects, including humans and animals.

University of Tokyo Raises Tuition Fees for First Time in 20 Years

The University of Tokyo has officially decided to increase tuition by approximately 110,000 yen for incoming undergraduate students starting next academic year, bringing the total to 642,960 yen.

Flooding Hits Temporary Housing in Quake-Stricken Wajima

Flooding has reached the temporary housing in Wajima City, built for earthquake victims, and volunteers have begun clearing the mud starting on September 24.

Russian military plane intrudes into Japanese airspace, Tokyo lodges protest

A Japanese government spokesperson says a Russian military airplane entered Japanese airspace three times on Monday. (NHK)

Kishida vows in meeting with Zelenskyy continued support for Ukraine

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has conveyed his country's intention to maintain support for Ukraine to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. (NHK)

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Society NEWS

Woman in Floral Mini-Skirt Targets Zoo Outlets with Mysterious Tape

Strange incidents involving a woman placing black tape on outlets have been occurring around zoos in the Izu area of Shizuoka Prefecture.

Japanese Households with Buddhist Altars Has Drastically Decreased

As the number of households with Buddhist altars continues to decline, largely due to space limitations in modern housing, wholesalers of Buddhist goods are struggling with unsold inventory.

Twelve Referred to Prosecutors for Alleged Abuse at Kuwana Festival Horse Event

Twelve individuals involved in the traditional 'Ageuma Shinji' horse event held last year at Tado Shrine in Kuwana City, Mie Prefecture, have been referred to prosecutors on allegations of violent behavior toward horses, including forcing them up steep slopes.