Overview

• Shinjiro Koizumi and Toshimitsu Motegi back expanding the ruling bloc, Sanae Takaichi supports a like‑minded coalition, Yoshimasa Hayashi sidesteps the topic, and Takayuki Kobayashi prefers policy‑by‑policy cooperation.
• At a public debate in Tokyo, candidates clashed on foreigners policy, with proposals ranging from zero tolerance for illegal residency to tighter controls on land and property purchases.
• Koizumi vowed to handle foreigner‑related issues under direct prime ministerial authority and to produce an action plan reviewing rules by year’s end.
• Seeking opposition cooperation for a minority government, Kobayashi, Takaichi and Koizumi proposed ending the provisional gasoline tax rate, a key opposition demand.
• Constitutional revision remained central, as Takaichi, Kobayashi and Koizumi prioritized explicitly stating the Self‑Defense Forces’ status, while others offered different amendment emphases.