Overview
- Government and Liberal Democratic Party officials are considering starting an income tax increase in January 2027 to secure additional defense funding, according to political reporting.
- As the ruling bloc advances a bill to reduce House of Representatives seats, opposition parties warn stricter rules on corporate and group donations could be deprioritized and question the prime minister’s committee answers.
- Two Hokkaido-elected members joined Ichiseikai led by Ichiro Ozawa, pushing the group above the 20-member threshold needed to nominate a candidate in the Constitutional Democratic Party leadership race.
- A coalition led by the Hokkaido Peace Movement Forum submitted signatures from 346 unions and civic groups to Governor Naomichi Suzuki opposing a restart of Hokkaido Electric’s Tomari nuclear plant Unit 3.
- Public safety updates included Tokyo police arresting a former Sumiyoshi-kai affiliate accused of fraudulently collecting mikajime-ryo, an injury-causing robbery under investigation at a Nobeoka gas station, a Hakodate SNS investment scam with ¥6.4 million reported lost, and bank staff in Nakashibetsu stopping a small advance-fee payment scheme targeting an 82-year-old.