Public Policy & Governance
Latest news and updates on public policy & governance for expats in Japan
Japan's Nuclear Restart Faces Setbacks: Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Halts, Hamaoka Under Investigation
TEPCO shut down Kashiwazaki-Kariwa reactor after 29 hours due to alarm malfunctions, while regulators will inspect Chubu Electric over suspected earth...
Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Plant Restarts: First TEPCO Reactor Since Fukushima
TEPCO restarted Kashiwazaki-Kariwa reactor Unit 6 on January 21, the first TEPCO nuclear restart since the 2011 Fukushima disaster, with scheduled ins...
Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Restart Delayed After Safety Alarm Failures
TEPCO postponed Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Plant Unit 6 restart after discovering alarm configuration errors during safety tests. No new restart date ...
Japan's Prime Minister Takaichi Calls Snap Election for February 8
Prime Minister Takaichi dissolved the Diet on January 19, calling a snap election for February 8—the shortest postwar campaign period. While expats ca...
PM Takaichi Announces Diet Dissolution and Snap Election
Prime Minister Takaichi will announce House of Representatives dissolution on January 19, triggering a snap election. The move follows coalition chang...
Snap Election Called as Political Veterans Exit Japanese Politics
PM Takaichi will dissolve parliament January 19, triggering snap elections to validate the LDP-Ishin coalition. Former PM Suga and other veterans are ...
Early Election Call and Opposition Merger Shake Up Japanese Politics
PM Takaichi calls early election for late January while opposition parties CDP and Komeito merge into Centrist Reform Alliance. Budget delays possible...
Major Political Shifts: Opposition Merger and Osaka Leadership Resigns
Opposition parties CDP and Komeito are forming a new centrist party ahead of February elections, while Osaka's governor and mayor resign to trigger sp...
Snap Election Called: Political Realignment May Affect Expat Services
Prime Minister Takaichi calls snap election for February 8, 2026, amid major party realignments. Opposition parties may form new coalitions, potential...
Japan Braces for Snap Election as Regional Leadership Shakeups Unfold
PM Takaichi plans to dissolve Parliament on January 23rd for snap elections. Osaka's governor and mayor will resign to seek reelection supporting regi...
China Export Controls Threaten Japanese Supply Chains and Economy
China's new export controls on dual-use items have sparked widespread economic concern in Japan, with 70% of survey respondents worried about impacts....
Japan Tackles Rare Earth Dependencies as G7 Pushes Supply Chain Diversity
Japan joins G7 nations in addressing critical mineral supply chain vulnerabilities, with plans for domestic rare earth mining to reduce dependence on ...
Japan-South Korea Summit in Nara Signals Diplomatic Warming
Prime Minister Takaichi hosted South Korean President Lee in Nara on January 13, emphasizing future-oriented bilateral relations. The hometown summit ...
Diet Dissolution Looms as Coalition Talks Reshape Japan's Political Landscape
Prime Minister Takaichi may dissolve the House of Representatives when the Diet convenes January 23rd. Opposition parties are forming unusual alliance...
Early Election Speculation Grips Japan as Parties Rush to Prepare
Prime Minister Takaichi may dissolve parliament when the Diet convenes next week, triggering a snap election. All parties are preparing intensively as...
Japan Plans Major Security Strategy Review Amid Defense Policy Shift
Japan plans to establish an expert panel this spring to review its National Security Strategy and related defense documents. Public support for defens...
Japan Faces Snap Election: What Foreign Residents Should Know
Prime Minister Takaichi may dissolve Japan's lower house for snap elections at the upcoming Diet session. While existing visas remain unaffected, the ...
Nuclear Data Scandal Raises Safety Concerns as Power Companies Face Scrutiny
Chubu Electric faces government orders after manipulating earthquake data for Hamaoka Nuclear Plant. TEPCO submits new financial plan while renewable ...
Japan Plans Five-Year Red Bond Issuance as Diet Session Approaches
Japan plans to authorize five-year red bond issuance starting fiscal 2026 and submit 61 bills including National Intelligence Council establishment an...
Consumer Protection Crackdown: Major Retailers Face Penalties in Japan
Major Japanese retailers face penalties for consumer violations including food mislabeling, discriminatory pricing, and unclear promotions. Foreign re...