News On Japan

Koizumi Pushes for Rapid Political Reforms

TOKYO, Sep 11 (News On Japan) - Shinjiro Koizumi has set his sights on running for the leadership of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), aiming to achieve three major reforms within one year: 'political reform,' 'regulatory reform,' and 'expanding life choices.'

Koizumi announced his candidacy while visiting agricultural areas in Niigata Prefecture, where he expressed optimism about Japan's rice export prospects to markets such as the United States and Hong Kong. Despite positive feedback from local farmers, Koizumi is already facing resistance within the LDP.

Koizumi’s promise to implement political reform within a year has sparked debate. One of his key proposals includes abolishing political activity funds, known for their opaque use, and pushing for full transparency regarding unused funds. Additionally, he has vowed to address long-standing issues related to the public funding system, aiming for stricter accountability measures within the party.

Koizumi also highlighted his commitment to "unsparing regulatory reforms," which include reviewing employment regulations in large corporations, addressing wage disparities between regular and non-regular employees, and tackling Japan's labor shortage. He has proposed introducing measures to boost labor market fluidity, such as easing restrictions on layoffs while ensuring adequate support for reemployment.

With the official announcement for the LDP presidential election set for tomorrow, Koizumi remains the youngest candidate at 43 years old. Despite his proposals for bold reforms, Koizumi faces growing skepticism within the party. His opponents argue that such rapid changes could overwhelm government officials and question whether the reforms could realistically be achieved within his proposed timeframe.

Koizumi's vision for reform mirrors that of his father’s, but whether he can garner the necessary support within the party remains to be seen.

Source: ANN

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

Cedar pollen dispersal in Tokyo began on January 8th, marking the earliest start since monitoring began in 1985, according to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

The Japan Foundation has announced a joint research project with a UK research group to investigate the mysterious oxygen produced in the lightless depths of the ocean, known as 'dark oxygen,' which forms through methods other than photosynthesis.

Nintendo announced on January 16th that it will release the successor to the Nintendo Switch, the Nintendo Switch 2, sometime in 2025.

An avalanche occurred near a ski resort in Ajigasawa, Aomori Prefecture, involving 13 people, mostly foreign tourists. All were safely evacuated, with one person sustaining minor injuries.

A rocket carrying the lunar lander developed by Japanese space venture ispace was successfully launched from the Kennedy Space Center in the United States.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Politics NEWS

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has unveiled a plan to start covering up to 1.5 million yen in student loan repayments for individuals hired as teachers or technical public officials in the city starting from April this year. The initiative is expected to launch next year.

The Ground Self-Defense Force's First Airborne Brigade held its annual "First Parachute Training" exercise at the Narashino Training Ground in Chiba Prefecture, where Defense Minister Nakatanit also took part in the drills.

Prime Minister Ishiba has positioned regional revitalization as the "Reiwa-era National Transformation" in his New Year's address, outlining plans to curb Tokyo’s overconcentration by promoting the relocation of central government agencies to regional areas.

Prime Minister Ishiba, who plans to move into the official residence as early as December 28th, addressed rumors that the residence is haunted, stating, "I'm from the Oba-Q generation, so I'm not afraid."

Japan is revolutionising its defence innovation by creating a dual-use startup ecosystem that integrates civilian technologies into defence research. (East Asia Forum)

Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced a decision to ease visa requirements for Chinese nationals visiting Japan.

Japan is set to shoulder over 6.9 percent of the total financial contributions by member countries to support the United Nations from 2025 to 2027. It remains the third largest contributor following the United States and China, with the latter's share rising to almost on par with the US. (NHK)

Prime Minister Ishiba attended a Christmas service on Sunday morning, December 22, at a Protestant church in Tokyo. As discussions are underway to arrange a meeting with U.S. President-elect Trump next month, their shared Protestant background may serve as a point of connection.