Overview

• Komeito announced on Oct. 10 that it will leave the formal governing framework with the LDP and decide cooperation issue by issue.
• The break followed unresolved demands for tougher limits on corporate and organizational donations and clarification of a faction secret-funds scandal.
• The LDP now faces the prospect of a single-party cabinet and may need opposition support to manage Diet business.
• LDP Diet affairs chief Kajiyama discussed timing with the Constitutional Democratic Party and is working to convene the extraordinary Diet in the early part of the week of Oct. 20.
• Japan’s Foreign Ministry warns preparation time is tight for President Trump’s planned late-October visit, noting around 30 hours of briefings were required before a prior summit.