Takaichi Launches Into First Major Diet Battle After 3 a.m. Study Session

TOKYO, Nov 08 (News On Japan) - The Budget Committee of the House of Representatives opened on November 7th, with Prime Minister Takaichi facing her first full-scale debate since taking office.

Reporting live from the National Diet Press Center, Fuji TV political correspondent Mako Fukuda said Takaichi entered the session after holding an intensive study meeting starting at 3 a.m., reflecting the administration’s view that “the first round is critical” in setting the tone for her leadership.

During the session, Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Masahiro Takamura asked about the government’s approach to responsible fiscal expansion to boost economic recovery. Takaichi responded: “Our top priority is securing people’s livelihoods and tackling rising prices. When households are struggling, the economy cannot become strong.”

Emphasizing the need for growth as the foundation for fiscal sustainability, Takaichi reiterated, “Without growth, we cannot secure the sustainability of public finances. We must build a strong economy at all costs.”

Addressing ongoing bear attacks across the country, she added, “This is a matter of life and death. We will act swiftly and implement necessary measures step by step.”

In the afternoon, the Constitutional Democratic Party is set to take the floor, preparing to intensify its questioning over corporate and organizational political donations, signaling a heated exchange ahead.

Source: FNN

Another Strong Offshore Quake Struck Northern Japan

A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck off the eastern coast of Aomori on December 12th at around 11:44 a.m., triggering tsunami advisories across Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate, and Miyagi as authorities warned that waves of up to one meter could reach coastal areas.

Akita Train Derails And Overturns, Injuring Driver

A train running on the Akita Nairiku Jukan Railway derailed and overturned near Kayakusa Station in Kitaakita City on the morning of December 12th, with the incident reported to police and fire authorities shortly before 6:50 a.m.

Kitagawa and Sakaguchi Receive Nobel Medals

The Nobel Prize award ceremony was held on the evening of December 10th, or early on December 11th in Japan, at the Stockholm Concert Hall, where King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden presented the highest honors — the medal and certificate — to Osaka University specially appointed professor Shimon Sakaguchi, 74, the recipient of this year’s Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, and Kyoto University distinguished professor Susumu Kitagawa, 74, who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

Forbes Ranks Prime Minister Takaichi as the World’s Third Most Powerful Woman

America’s business magazine Forbes announced on December 10th that Prime Minister Takaichi has been ranked third on its list of the “World’s Most Powerful Women,” placing the Japanese leader near the top of a global ranking of 100 figures across politics, business, and culture, and marking a prominent acknowledgment of Japan’s first female prime minister.

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Shibuya Ward has approved an ordinance that would impose a 2,000-yen fine for littering on public streets, while also penalizing shops that fail to provide trash bins. The measure was passed on December 10th and targets both individuals who discard waste and businesses near major stations that offer takeout services, raising questions about whether the approach will meaningfully reduce trash on the streets.

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