Latest news with #HouseofCouncillors
44 minutes ago
- Politics
2025 POLLS: Highlight Videos Playing Big Role in Election
News from Japan Politics Jul 17, 2025 15:29 (JST) Tokyo, July 17 (Jiji Press)--Highlight videos, or short videos utilizing clips posted by political parties and candidates, on social media are playing a major role in Japan's election for the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of parliament, on Sunday. Social media is increasingly impacting election results amid the growing popularity of YouTube and other video-sharing sites. Some video creators seek to boost specific parties or candidates, while others are motivated by advertising revenue generated by views. A former company employee in his 30s living in Tokyo began posting highlight videos on YouTube in December 2023. He said he was inspired by a video of a press conference given by Shinji Ishimaru, then mayor of Akitakata, Hiroshima Prefecture, western Japan, whom he said 'spoke very logically.' After viewing highlight videos made by other posters, the man came to believe that he could 'convey (Ishimaru's ideas) in an easier-to-understand way.' [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
Yomiuri Shimbun
an hour ago
- Politics
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Japan ‘a target of foreign election interference' online;Bots Found Pushing Posts Fomenting Japan-U.S. Division
Japan is among the targets of foreign interference in elections, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kazuhiko Aoki said Wednesday. According to a government official, election-related false information seems to have been spread by foreign entities through social media. The government has heightened its vigilance, suspecting that such activities are aimed at influencing Sunday's House of Councillors election. 'There have been cases overseas in which false information is spread as part of measures to influence public opinion in one country and create an information environment favorable to another country,' Aoki said at a press conference. He said Japan will 'swiftly grasp relevant developments and inform and caution the public about the spread of disinformation, as necessary.' According to the government official, several private data companies and others studied posts critical of the Japanese government, which were spreading on social media, and found that they were being spread by foreign forces using bots, which are digital tools that can be used to automatically perform repetitive tasks. Some of the posts are believed to have been repeatedly reposted or garnered many 'likes.' The bots are said to include ones aimed at fueling divisions between Japan and the United States. Minister for digital transformation Masaaki Taira also said Tuesday there were cases of foreign interference in elections abroad, and similar moves have been confirmed in relation to the upper house election. 'It is necessary to closely monitor the situation,' Taira said at a press conference.
Yomiuri Shimbun
an hour ago
- Business
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Wage Increases and Economic Growth: Take Measures to Boost Corporate Investment
To realize wage increases that will overcome rising prices, it is essential to strengthen the earning power of companies. In the ongoing House of Councillors election campaign, political parties should compete with each other on strategies to boost investment for that purpose. There is no question that large wage increases are necessary in the attempt to break the Japanese economy out of its long period of stagnation, also known as the 'lost 30 years.' However, while major listed companies have attained record earnings for four consecutive years, wage increases have not kept pace with rising prices. Real wages have been on a downward trend since spring 2022, in effect making the sense of stagnation more pronounced. Under such circumstances, political parties are competing with each other through their plans for tax cuts or cash handouts to ease the immediate burden on household budgets. The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Japan Innovation Party have proposed temporarily lowering the consumption tax rate on food to zero. The Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito have pledged to provide ¥40,000 in cash to every child and to adults in households that are exempt from residential tax, as well as ¥20,000 to other members of the public. However, these shortsighted measures will not be able to revive the Japanese economy. To expand the trend of wage increases, the economic pie for the distribution of wealth must be enlarged by achieving high economic growth. To that end, it is essential for companies to improve their earning power. It is companies themselves that play the main role in raising wages. What is required of the government is a policy that creates an environment conducive to wage increases. One of the reasons for the Japanese economy's stagnation is the lack of corporate investment. It will be necessary to present a strategy and outlook that will encourage investment. The world is undergoing a period of major change. The free trade system is being shaken by the high tariff policy of U.S. President Donald Trump's administration. China has been strengthening its hegemonic moves, and economic security is becoming more important. Under such circumstances, the LDP has identified key industries for the next 10 years and pledged bold investments in them. The CDPJ has proposed support for the domestic production of cloud systems and artificial intelligence. Aren't both of these strategies insufficient for navigating this period of major change? Political parties will be tested as to whether they can first show a broad direction Japan should take and then present concrete measures that will encourage a review of the supply chains and a return of manufacturing industries to Japan, among other changes. One of the main reasons why the Japanese economy is suffering from high prices is that the yen has been excessively depreciated for a prolonged period. Behind the yen's depreciated state is also a decline in national power. If the Japanese economy becomes strong by promoting investment, the yen's depreciation can be expected to ease. Reiwa Shinsengumi, Sanseito and others have advocated the abolition of the consumption tax. Consumption tax revenue amounts to about ¥25 trillion. It is a key tax that makes up about one-third of the nation's tax revenues, and its abolition would result in a loss of confidence in the government's finances. It would only serve to diminish the nation's strength. (From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 17, 2025)
8 hours ago
- Politics
2025 POLLS: Japanese Parties Apart over Gender Issues
News from Japan Politics Jul 17, 2025 08:30 (JST) Tokyo, July 17 (Jiji Press)--Japan's political parties are divided over issues such as the advisability of the nation introducing a selective dual surname system for married couples and gender equality, ahead of the election Sunday for the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of parliament. LDP on Fence on Dual Surnames In this year's ordinary session through June 22, the parliament discussed a possible selective dual surname system for the first time in 28 years. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
The Mainichi
21 hours ago
- Politics
- The Mainichi
Japan a target of foreign election interference online, gov't says
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan may be a target of disinformation by foreign actors to disrupt its elections, a government spokesman said Wednesday, as the country prepares to vote later this week in the House of Councillors race. Responding to a question about possible election interference via social media, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kazuhiko Aoki said at a regular press conference that Japan "is also becoming a target of influence operations." According to a report by the U.S. Harvard Kennedy School, influence operations often involve using fake social media accounts, altered videos and internet memes to amplify disinformation and disrupt elections. Aoki said the government intends to strengthen its information distribution capabilities including responding to disinformation from overseas. "It is important elections are held with voters able to make free choices based on accurate information," he said. His remarks came a day after digital minister Masaaki Taira acknowledged there had been "some reports" of possible foreign election interference, and indicated investigations into the issue may be necessary. While fears of foreign interference in elections are of increasing concern overseas, the issue has rarely featured in Japanese politics. The Romanian presidential race's first round was annulled and held again in 2025 amid claims of Russian interference.
