Overview

• At a Japan Press Club debate on September 24, Mogi Toshimitsu, Takaichi Sanae and Koizumi Shinjirō said they would not rule out placing a consumption‑tax cut on the agenda in inter‑party negotiations.
• Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa expressed that creating a redundant “sub‑capital” to ensure state functions during major emergencies is very necessary.
• Hayashi also linked any tax‑cut discussion to social‑security financing trade‑offs and said moving toward a consumption‑tax increase now would be difficult.
• Rivals concentrated questions on Koizumi at the debate, and he replied cautiously, at times reading from prepared materials.
• Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said he will issue a postwar‑80th statement as a personal message rather than a cabinet‑approved document and emphasized solving “politics and money” issues to regain public support.