The National Diet Building is pictured in Tokyo’s Chiyoda Ward. (Mainichi/Akihiro Hirata)
The launch of the new Japanese government administration, which the Cabinet of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba had originally expected to take place on Oct. 15, has been delayed. According to multiple government sources, the government and ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) have begun coordinating to convene an extraordinary Diet session on Oct. 21 to name a new prime minister.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, however, remains anxious, as U.S. President Donald Trump is due to make a trip to Japan on Oct. 27, and if the extraordinary Diet session is delayed, there will be less time to discuss the approach to the Japan-U.S. summit currently being arranged for Oct. 28. Below, the Mainichi Shimbun answers questions readers may have about the inauguration of the new administration and the coming summit talks.
Question: Why has the new administration’s launch been delayed?
Answer: This is because coalition talks between the LDP, led by Sanae Takaichi, and its junior coalition partner Komeito have hit a snag, and it has not yet been decided when the extraordinary Diet session will be convened.
Q: What preparations are needed ahead of President Trump’s visit?
A: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs holds multiple “policy lectures” with the new prime minister to discuss the response to President Trump. If Takaichi is named prime minister on Oct. 21, there will be just three weekdays from the 22nd until Trump’s arrival in Japan, necessitating very quick preparations.
Q: How was it when Ishiba was prime minister?
A: When Ishiba and Trump met for the first time in February, it is said that around 30 hours of lectures were held in advance.
Q: What kind of talks are expected with Trump this time?
A: Trump may seek the crystallization of $550 billion (about 80 trillion yen) in investment in the U.S., which Tokyo and Washington have agreed upon, and an increase in defense spending, among other demands. This will require scrupulous measures from the Japanese side, such as envisioning in advance responses that can gain Trump’s understanding.
AloJapan.com