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Japan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Japan Times
Nippon Ishin stakes its appeal on real results as Upper House vote nears
Japan's Upper House election Sunday is of exceptional importance, especially because the ruling coalition now holds only a minority in the Lower House — a situation not seen in nearly three decades. As a result, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's administration is compelled to seek cooperation from opposition parties to move legislation forward. This marks a rare and significant opportunity for the opposition — including our party, Nippon Ishin no Kai — to fulfill its policy promises. While we naturally aim to have all of our candidates elected, Nippon Ishin has set an additional key goal for this election: to push the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito below the majority threshold in the Upper House. Should both chambers come under minority government control, a new sense of urgency and responsibility will permeate the Diet, Japan's parliament. In such a scenario, the presence and influence of the opposition — including Nippon Ishin — will undoubtedly grow. What makes a vote for Nippon Ishin worthwhile is our unwavering commitment to delivering on our pledges. As mentioned earlier, the current parliamentary landscape offers a rare chance for opposition parties to turn campaign promises into reality. And yet, which opposition party, other than Nippon Ishin, has truly done so? While some opposition parties broke off negotiations with the government, Nippon Ishin succeeded in achieving free tuition for high-school students. As a nonruling party, we cannot implement policy on our own. In order to fulfill our pledges, we voted in favor of the government's initial budget plan — an act that drew criticism for allegedly supporting the ruling coalition. But we stood firm, choosing tangible results over political posturing. After all, campaign promises are commitments to the people and every politician should be willing to exhaust every effort to honor them. Nippon Ishin also brings value through its independence from vested interests. During the last Diet session, opposition parties failed to unite behind a bill to ban corporate and organizational donations. The inability to advance political reform and the continued lack of progress in improving citizens' lives stems from the irresponsibility of both the ruling LDP — which resists structural change — and the other established opposition parties, which remain entangled in old alliances. Nippon Ishin, by contrast, operates free from such entanglements and boldly pursues policy reform. Our consistent advocacy for banning corporate donations and our leadership in achieving free high-school tuition are clear evidence of that. In this election, Nippon Ishin places its core focus on the slogan: 'Transforming Lives Through Social Insurance Reform.' We propose comprehensive changes to reduce social-insurance premiums while working toward these four goals: An economy where take-home pay rises faster than inflation. Politics free from entrenched interests. A society that offers genuine hope for future generations. Japan as a self-reliant nation. These reforms have long been recognized as necessary, yet old-guard political parties have consistently looked the other way. But now — with growing economic uncertainties and Japan's aging population crisis accelerating beyond manageable levels — the time for delay has passed. Reform must begin immediately. We call upon the public to consolidate its desire for change by casting votes for Nippon Ishin. Help us bring your voices into the Diet, and together, let us make long-overdue reform a reality. Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura and Lower House member Seiji Maehara are co-leaders of the opposition party Nippon Ishin no Kai. In the lead-up to the July 20 Upper House election, The Japan Times reached out to the nation's major political parties requesting an op-ed for our Opinion pages on why this election is so crucial and why their party deserves the citizens' vote. We are publishing all those who responded.
Asahi Shimbun
09-07-2025
- Business
- Asahi Shimbun
Hot-button issue in election: How to deal with the rise in foreigners
The leaders of 10 political parties vying for 125 seats in the Upper House. The election will be held on July 20. (The Asahi Shimbun) Dealing with the increasing number of foreigners in Japan has emerged as an issue in the Upper House election, with parties' policies ranging from seeking a peaceful coexistence to conducting loyalty checks. The new specified skills visa is expected to lead to a further surge in foreign residents living in Japan to help fill labor shortages in various industries. But several problems have already arisen, including traffic accidents and crimes caused by non-Japanese nationals. And some politicians have warned about the loss of Japanese culture in areas with large foreign communities. The central government on July 8 said it will establish an organization in the Cabinet Secretariat early next week to strengthen its response to problems caused by foreign residents. Political parties have come up with various other plans, which they are touting in the campaign for the July 20 Upper House election. 'ZERO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS' The ruling Liberal Democratic Party has vowed to 'accelerate efforts toward 'zero illegal foreigners.'' In May, the party hurriedly established a group to discuss how to deal with problems related to foreign residents in Japan. In its campaign pledges for the Upper House election, the LDP included strengthening regulations on converting overseas driving permits to Japanese driver's licenses and limiting real estate acquisitions by foreigners. The party said it 'will take firm action based on the law.' The LDP's junior coalition partner, Komeito, has also called for 'zero illegally overstaying foreigners.' 'ONLY FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH' Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party) has made a campaign pledge to 'accept foreigners for work purposes only if they can contribute to the growth of the Japanese economy.' The Democratic Party for the People has emphasized in its campaign that 'taxes paid by Japanese people will be used for policies for Japanese people.' Specifically, the DPP calls for stronger real estate investment regulations to better protect 'national land' from foreign buyers, as well as a 'review of operations on social insurance for foreigners.' DOMINANT ISSUE One reason for the trend to push foreign resident policies is the success of the Sanseito party, whose 'Japanese First' catchphrase has garnered attention from voters on social media. Sanseito has opposed an 'excessive acceptance of foreigners,' and its policies include the introduction of 'a system to check the loyalty of foreigners to Japan and their actual living conditions.' In the national defense and diplomacy section of Sanseito's policy book, policies on foreigners are listed in 24 items. These include suspending welfare payments to foreigners, restricting the hiring of foreigners as public servants, and establishing a government agency to centrally manage policies on foreigners. The party made the same arguments in the Tokyo metropolitan assembly election in June. Three of its candidates won the party's first-ever Tokyo assembly seats. Despite being labeled xenophobic by its opponents and critics, Sanseito is showing momentum ahead of the Upper House election. According to an Asahi Shimbun survey conducted in the early stages of the election campaign, Sanseito is expected to significantly increase its number of Upper House seats from the one it gained in the 2022 election. 'This is Japan, so we must create a system that will enrich the Japanese people,' Sanseito leader Sohei Kamiya said at a campaign rally in Fukushima on July 4. 'Isn't it natural to make the economic structure and taxation system favorable to our own people?' CALL FOR MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY On the other hand, the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, the Japanese Communist Party, Reiwa Shinsengumi, and the Social Democratic Party are showing restraint about enforcing stricter regulations regarding foreigners. They are concerned that such policies may lead to exclusionism and discrimination. The CDP has called for enactment of a basic law that takes into account the social changes caused by the increase in foreign residents in Japan. The party also advocates a review of the consumption tax exemption system for foreign tourists. 'The basic principle is to create a multicultural society,' CDP leader Yoshihiko Noda has said. 'What is illegal is no good, whether you are a foreigner or a Japanese.' The JCP has pledged to 'guarantee foreign workers the same rights as Japanese.' EXCLUSION RISK Akira Igarashi, an associate professor at the University of Osaka who specializes in immigration and discrimination issues, said politicians' discourses that view foreigners as 'threats' carry the risk of moving society in the direction of excluding foreigners. 'If politicians spread discourse that is a source of exclusionism, it could lead to the creation of an environment in which it is acceptable to express it publicly,' he said. CAMPAIGN PLEDGES OF EACH PARTY REGARDING FOREIGN RESIDENTS Liberal Democratic Party: Stricter regulations on converting driver's licenses. Accelerate efforts toward 'zero illegal foreigners.' Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan: Enactment of a basic law for a multicultural society that takes into account socioeconomic changes caused by the increase in foreign residents in Japan. Komeito: Consider establishing a system to prevent foreigners from failing to pay social insurance premiums. Aim to accomplish 'zero illegally overstaying foreigners.' Nippon Ishin: Establish a population strategy that controls the rate of increase in foreign nationals and regulates the total number of foreign nationals accepted into Japan. Japanese Communist Party: Overhaul the Immigration Control Law. Establish an independent human rights institution to deal with discrimination and human rights violations. Democratic Party for the People: Investigate the actual status of social insurance coverage for foreigners and ensure it is properly administered. Reiwa Shinsengumi: Abolish the technical intern trainee law. Eliminate human rights violations at immigration facilities. Sanseito: Suspension of welfare payments to foreigners. Restrictions on hiring foreigners as public servants. Stricter observance of Japanese culture by foreigners. Social Democratic Party: Enact an anti-discrimination law with penalties. Do not exclude refugees and immigrants. Conservative Party of Japan: Correct the immigration policy. Revise the Immigration Control Law and tighten its enforcement. (This article was compiled from reports written by Kei Kobayashi, Yuki Minami and Chika Yamamoto.)
Japan Times
09-07-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Premiums and wages at heart of social security debate ahead of Upper House vote
Political parties have pledged to reduce social security premiums and raise salaries for medical and nursing care workers in their campaigning for the July 20 election for the House of Councilors, the upper chamber of parliament. The pledges come as premiums have been rising because of an aging population and higher prices. Since benefits and burdens come as a set, it is essential for the parties to identify a concrete path to realize the reform. Social security benefits swelled from ¥78.4 trillion in fiscal 2000 to ¥137.8 trillion in fiscal 2022, while social security premiums grew from ¥26.7 trillion to ¥40.7 trillion, according to the welfare ministry's National Institute of Population and Social Security Research. For this reason, the government aims to increase social security burdens on certain people, but such reform faces strong opposition. For example, the government had to freeze a plan to raise out-of-pocket payments for high-cost medical care due to a backlash from opposition parties and patient groups. Campaign pledges by Nippon Ishin no Kai put priority on reducing social security burdens on households. The opposition party promised to raise net income by ¥60,000 per person per year by reducing the country's medical expenses by ¥4 trillion annually. The reduction can be achieved including by cutting the number of excess hospital beds by around 110,000, Nippon Ishin said. The Democratic Party for the People, another opposition party, calls for raising out-of-pocket medical expenses for people who are 75 or older from the current 10%, in principle, to 20% to reduce the premiums for the working generation. The main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan seeks to set an upper limit on the total amount of out-of-pocket expenses for medical, nursing care and welfare services in accordance with the user's income. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party pledged to raise the official prices of medical and nursing care services to raise the wages of workers in the sectors. Komeito, the LDP's coalition partner, called for raising the wages of nursing care and welfare workers to the average of all industries, at ¥386,000 per month. The proposal by the ruling coalition to raise the official prices of medical and other social security services would lead to an increase in premiums and tax burdens. Opposition parties' pledges to reduce premiums are also challenging in terms of how to secure financial resources. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who leads the LDP, said the government will consider establishing a suprapartisan panel on social security reform, stressing the need to discuss the issue without prioritizing the interests of parties. Through such discussion, both ruling and opposition parties need to foster a common understanding that social security reform requires painful measures, experts said.
The Mainichi
08-07-2025
- Business
- The Mainichi
Editorial: Japan parties must solve social security crisis amid aging society
As Japan's birth rate falls and society ages rapidly, political parties must face tough choices and thoroughly debate how to ensure the sustainability of the nation's social security system. Public pensions and health care are funded largely by the working-age population. After World War II, against the backdrop of economic growth and population expansion, these public services were continually enhanced. However, prolonged economic stagnation coupled with the diminishing population is placing an increasing burden on the current generation of workers. In the ongoing House of Councillors election, the state of social security has emerged as a key issue closely intertwined with economic policy. Opposition forces Nippon Ishin (the Japan Innovation Party) and the Democratic Party for the People argue for reducing social security premiums to increase the net incomes of the working-age population. On the other side, the ruling coalition parties Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Komeito advocate maintaining the existing level of benefits and services. Thus, the election debate portrays clear positions representing either the working-age generation or the elderly beneficiaries being supported. Postponement is political irresponsibility A dire pension-related issue is raising the basic benefit levels. Without intervention, pension payments are projected to shrink by about 30% in approximately 30 years, leaving many -- particularly those from the "employment ice-age generation," who faced limited job opportunities during an economic slump -- with insufficient levels of retirement security. Yet, the implementation of measures to raise pension benefit levels was postponed in the revised National Pension Act passed this June. These measures necessitate more than 2 trillion yen (around $13.69 billion) in additional tax revenue in the future, and the ruling LDP, fearing potential negative repercussions in the upper house election, chose to waver on the proposal. Another pressing obstacle facing Japan's nursing-care services is a lack of workers. This shortfall is expected to reach 570,000 people in 2040, when the elderly population will approach its peak. The greatest pressure will fall on home care providers that support elderly people living independently in their own homes. Low wages are the primary cause of this shortage. Care workers earn on average about 80,000 yen (some $548) less each month compared to workers across all industries, and that wage gap continues to widen as other sectors' wages increase. The LDP has pledged wage hikes that can bring levels up to compare with other industries, and the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan also calls for lifting care workers' wages to match the national cross-industry average. However, raising wages necessitates increasing caregiving service prices and leads directly to higher tax and premium burdens. Despite this, neither party seems to be sincerely attempting to win public understanding for additional burdens through sufficient explanations. Controlling the continued swelling of medical costs is another urgent priority. The government in response considered reforms to the High-Cost Medical Expense Benefit system -- a program designed to cap individual payments and ensure therapeutic support for patients with severe illnesses such as cancer or refractory diseases. However, the proposed revision, which in some cases would increase patients' out-of-pocket expenses by more than 70%, was scrapped during this year's regular Diet session following strong opposition from patients' associations. Consequently, the government is now examining an alternative approach: removing public health insurance coverage for so-called "OTC-equivalent medications," whose effects and ingredients are similar to over-the-counter medicines commonly sold at pharmacies. Such medications, including fever reducers and medicated plasters often used by patients with minor symptoms, have been pointed out as driving unnecessary clinic visits since they cost significantly less with insurance than when bought from drugstores. Seeking a fair contribution from people suffering colds and other minor ailments may seem sensible, but it remains vital not to adversely impact patients suffering from intractable diseases. Protect the idea of helping others Tatsunosuke Daito, 23, a company worker from Saitama Prefecture, suffers from a refractory skin disease. Not only does he experience constant pain and itching, he has difficulty regulating his body temperature. He needs large quantities of moisturizers -- applying them whenever his skin becomes dry, not just morning and night. While similar creams can be purchased at pharmacies, removing insurance coverage would vastly increase his financial burden. In June, his mother, Tomoko, 47, submitted to the health ministry an online petition containing around 86,000 signatures calling for continued insurance coverage of OTC-equivalent medications. Public subsidies for costs associated with intractable diseases and childhood medical expenses are premised on the treatment being covered by health insurance. If medication is not covered by insurance, such support is not available. Medical services can mean the difference between life and death. Revising such critical systems must involve careful discussion that pays attention to the voices of patients. There are no simple solutions when it comes to cutting social security expenditure and ensuring sufficient funding. Recently, there has been growing public sentiment favoring a system where each person's share of the burden is based on their ability to pay. In particular, affluent elderly citizens are being asked to shoulder a greater share. This sentiment may be a result of frustration among working-age people who perceive the elderly as receiving overly favorable treatment. Nevertheless, it remains vital to ensure this does not erode the core social security principle of mutual support shared throughout society. Ultimately, the challenge is balancing contributions and benefits in a fair and effective way in line with the changing times. It is the responsibility of politics to present a blueprint that will satisfy the majority of the public.
Japan Times
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
In Upper House election, Nippon Ishin faces key test in birthplace Osaka
Nippon Ishin no Kai faces a make-or-break situation in its birthplace of Osaka Prefecture in the upcoming House of Councilors election, as the opposition party struggles with dwindling support. Komeito, the junior partner in Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's ruling coalition, is also in a crucial fight in the prefectural constituency in the July 20 election for the upper chamber of parliament, as it is facing pressure from an upstart political party. Nippon Ishin, Komeito and the Liberal Democratic Party, the dominant partner in the ruling bloc, have won the four seats of the constituency in the past three Upper House races, but the landscape could be set to change in the upcoming poll. "All (other) political parties are headquartered in Tokyo," Nippon Ishin chief and Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura said in his first stump speech of the Upper House election campaigning on Thursday. "Nippon Ishin is the only party that truly thinks about regional areas." Speaking in the Namba district, one of the busiest areas of the city of Osaka, Yoshimura touted his party's accomplishments in administrative and fiscal reform in the Osaka prefectural and city governments, while calling for voters' support. The audience was not as engaged as it had been in past elections, however, and one local assembly member from the party admitted that "the crowd is small." Nippon Ishin has fielded two former Osaka city assembly members in the Upper House race, Rie Sasaki and Futoshi Okazaki. The party has won two seats in Osaka at every Upper House poll since 2016. But its support ratings have been falling, with its proportional representation vote tally in the prefecture falling by about 560,000 at last year's election for the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of parliament. The party is also struggling with internal turmoil, with a sitting Upper House lawmaker and an Osaka city assembly member both leaving Nippon Ishin after failing to secure its backing for the upcoming election. Sasaki and Okazaki jointly attended a rally in the Osaka city of Sakai on Thursday night, where they asked the more than 200 supporters in attendance to "divide neatly" their votes between the two candidates. The call came after Nippon Ishin apparently determined that securing two seats would be difficult if votes are concentrated on one candidate. About 300 local assembly members and local government heads in Osaka are supporting the campaigning of Sasaki and Okazaki. They have split into two teams to engage in campaign activities for each candidate. Sasaki and Okazaki spend the day campaigning separately but jointly attend night rallies. They ask supporters to split between the two the votes of their family members and acquaintances. Yoshimura has set a target of Nippon Ishin winning at least six seats in the Upper House race. With the party struggling to garner support, a senior party official suggested that this goal "can't be achieved without taking two (seats) in Osaka." "If the party drops a seat, it may affect the fate of the leader," another Nippon Ishin official said. Other roots in Osaka Osaka is a special place for Komeito. A candidate fielded by its main support group, the lay Buddhist group Soka Gakkai, in the prefectural constituency won a seat in the 1956 Upper House election, marking its debut in national politics. The 1956 campaign was led by the late Daisaku Ikeda, who later became Sokka Gakkai's leader. Komeito has since held onto the Osaka constituency seat. But in last year's Lower House election, Komeito failed to defend all four of its constituency seats in the prefecture. The party has struggled to gather votes due to Soka Gakkai's aging membership. "I don't know what will happen now," an Osaka city prefectural assembly member said. Hisatake Sugi, who is seeking his third term in the Upper House, said while speaking in a stump speech in front of a major shopping complex in the city of Osaka on Thursday that he had paved the way for a reduced consumption tax rate for certain goods. The LDP, Komeito and Nippon Ishin view Sanseito as a threat to their seats. The upstart party has set Osaka as a key opportunity for gains. Its leader, Sohei Kamiya, held speeches in the prefecture on Friday and Saturday. Kamiya, formerly a city assembly member from the Osaka city of Suita, held a speech in the same place where Yoshimura had delivered his first stump speech of the campaigning, telling voters that "Sanseito has its roots in Osaka." The Democratic Party for the People is also looking to grab an Osaka seat. Its chief, Yuichiro Tamaki, has spoken on multiple days in the prefecture. As Sanseito and the DPP are adept in campaigning on social media, it is difficult to gauge the level of support for their respective candidates, Chisato Miyade and Rio Watanabe. Rei Hashiguchi — who was fielded by the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, which placed sixth in the past two Upper House elections — is hoping to gather the votes of constituents critical of the government. A Komeito official said the party is "in a battle for fourth place with forces that had previously been unlikely to win." A senior Nippon Ishin official also expressed worry, saying the party is "viewed as an established party" and that it must differentiate itself by touting its achievements.
