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☆ Japan govt begins Unification Church probe amid anger over ties with ruling party
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TOKYO, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Japan's government on Tuesday launched a probe into the Unification Church, the first step in a process that could strip the group of its legal status amid public anger over its links to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's ruling party. The government will give the church until Dec. 9 to answer questions about its finances and organisation, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Keiko Nagaoka told a regular news conference. Once the government investigation is over it will be up to a court to decide whether to remove the Unification Church's legal standing and with it the tax exemptions that registered religious organisations enjoy in Japan. Widespread links between the church and lawmakers in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) came to light after former premier Shinzo Abe was shot and killed during an election campaign in July. Reporting by Tim Kelly and Kaori Kaneko; Editing by Chang-Ran Kim and Kenneth MaxwellOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Japan PM Kishida plans to sack internal affairs minister Terada, Yomiuri reports
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TOKYO, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is planning to sack internal affairs minister Minoru Terada, Yomiuri newspaper reported on Sunday, the third cabinet minister to leave in under a month in a fresh blow for Kishida's battered support ratings. Kishida told a news conference in Bangkok on Saturday he would make a decision on Terada as needed, adding "cabinet ministers must fulfill their obligations to explain." The suspected killer has said his mother was bankrupted by the church and has blamed Abe for promoting it. The LDP has acknowledged many lawmakers have ties to the church but that there is no organisational link to the party. Further damage came from the resignation of justice minister Yasuhiro Hanashi last week for comments seen as making light of his work responsibilities, specifically signing off on executions.

☆ Third Japanese cabinet minister in a month resigns in blow to PM
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-20 | by ( Elaine Lies | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

TOKYO, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Japan's internal affairs minister resigned on Sunday in connection with a funding scandal, becoming the third cabinet member to leave in less than a month in a severe blow to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's already shaky support. Internal affairs minister Minoru Terada tendered his resignation to Kishida after media reports the premier was preparing to sack him. Kishida said he had accepted Terada's resignation in order to prioritise parliamentary debate, including discussions on a second extra budget for the fiscal year ending in March. Asked about the fact that three ministers have resigned since Oct. 24, Kishida said he would like to apologise. Hanashi and Terada's resignations are likely to be especially painful because they were members of Kishida's faction in the LDP.

☆ Japan's PM Kishida plans to sack justice minister - media
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TOKYO, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has firmed up his intention to sack his justice minister, media reported on Friday, raising the possibility of a second minister leaving the cabinet because of a scandal in less than a month. Hanashi has come under widespread criticism over comments reported in the media in which he made light of his duties, specifically signing off on executions, which he referred to as "tedious". Hanashi's office declined to comment when asked about the media reports that the prime minister was preparing to sack him. Kishida has struggled to overcome revelations of deep and longstanding ties between the ruling party and the church in following the July assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Economic revitalisation minister Daishiro Yamagiwa resigned on Oct. 24 due to his ties to the religious group.

☆ Japan hosts multilateral display of naval unity amid East Asia tension
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-06 | by ( Tim Kelly | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The naval parade in Sagami Bay near Tokyo involved 38 vessels, 18 from friendly countries such as the United States, South Korea, Britain, Australia, Singapore, India and Thailand. Kishida's Liberal Democratic Party has pledged to double Japan's defence budget to around 2% of gross domestic product within five years. Japan refused to join South Korea's fleet review in 2018 after Seoul asked it not to fly its rising sun ensign, which South Korea views as a symbol of Japanese wartime aggression. Tokyo declined to invite South Korea to a planned 2019 review. China, which has criticised Japan's defence spending plans, declined an invitation to join the review.

☆ Approval of Japan PM Kishida's gov't hits new low, no help from economic plan
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Support slid to 42% in a poll conducted by the Nikkei newspaper at the weekend, the lowest since Kishida took office in October 2021. Approval edged up slightly in a Kyodo news agency survey to 37.6% from 35% at the start of October. read moreThe Unification Church, founded in South Korea in the 1950s and famous for its mass weddings, has been fending off criticism for the means by which it collects donations. In the Kyodo poll, nearly 80% of respondents thought the LDP should expand its investigation into the church. A poll earlier this month showed it had slid to 27.4%, a level low enough to make it difficult to carry out policy.

☆ Japan's extra budget for stimulus package to exceed $198 bln -NHK
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Kim Kyung-HoonTOKYO, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Japan's upcoming economic stimulus package is expected to include an extra budget of more than 29 trillion yen ($198 billion), far exceeding a previous estimate, national broadcaster NHK reported on Thursday. Only a day earlier, Japanese media had reported the government was set to spend about 25 trillion yen on the stimulus package, aimed at easing the pain from rising energy and other living costs. Japan's public debt is already the biggest among major economies at twice the size of its economy. The extra spending, which is likely to be finalised on Friday, is expected to be partially funded by additional debt issuance, raising concerns over Japan's fiscal discipline. Asked about the raised spending estimate and its implications, Suzuki said work was still ongoing to reach a final decision on Friday.

☆ Japan extra budget for stimulus package to exceed $198 bln -NHK
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Japan's Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki speaks at a news conference after Japan intervened in the currency market for the first time since 1998 to shore up the battered yen in Tokyo, Japan September 22, 2022. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-HoonTOKYO, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Japan's upcoming economic stimulus package is expected to entail an extra budget of more than 29 trillion yen ($198 billion), far exceeding a previous estimate, national broadcaster NHK reported on Thursday. Only a day earlier, Japanese media had reported that the government was set to spend about 25 trillion yen on the stimulus package, aimed at easing the pain from rising energy and other living costs. Lawmakers from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party objected to the lower estimate, prompting Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki to meet on Wednesday evening to review the plan, NHK reported. ($1 = 146.3200 yen)Reporting by Mariko Katsumura and Chang-Ran Kim; Editing by Stephen CoatesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Japan PM appoints ex-health min Goto as next economy minister
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Kantaro Komiya | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TOKYO, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Tuesday appointed former health minister Shigeyuki Goto as the next economy minister after the incumbent abruptly resigned amid criticism over his links to a controversial religious group. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Kishida said he picked Goto based on his "political experience, high presentation skills and passion for economic and social reforms." Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterYamagiwa became the first minister to resign from Kishida's government and the highest profile political casualty thus far from a widening scandal sparked by the killing of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in July. The suspect in the killing bore a grudge against the Unification Church, alleging it bankrupted his mother, and blamed Abe for promoting it. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Kentaro Sugiyama Editing by Chang-Ran KimOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Japanese economic minister steps down over church links
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( Kantaro Komiya | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

He added that he regretted attending so many church gatherings and giving the organisation recognition as a result. INVESTIGATIONThe church, founded in South Korea in the 1950s and famous for its mass weddings, has came under the spotlight following the July 8 assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Since the killing, evidence has come to light of deep and longstanding ties between the church and LDP members. The LDP has acknowledged that many individual lawmakers have ties to the church but have said there was no organisational link to the party. Critics say the church built ties with politicians in Japan to attract followers and gain legitimacy while politicians gained access to church members for help with campaigns.

☆ Japan econmin Yamagiwa to step down - NHK
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

TOKYO, Oct 24 (Reuters) - Japanese Economy Minister Daishiro Yamagiwa plans to step down on growing calls from the opposition to resign due to his insufficient explanations about his ties to the controversial Unification Church, public broadcaster NHK said on Monday. His resignation would be a blow to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida as revelations about connections between nearly half of the lawmakers at the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the church came under the spotlight following the July assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. read moreRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Mariko Katsumura, Writing by Elaine Lies Editing by Chang-Ran KimOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Japan's stimulus plan must exceed $100 bln, says ruling party executive
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TOKYO, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Japan's promised economic stimulus must be big enough to exceed the economy's output gap of about 15 trillion yen ($100 billion), a senior ruling party official said on Sunday. "The gap in Japan's gross domestic product (GDP) is now around 15 trillion yen. It's not enough to just fill this gap," said Yoshitaka Shindo, executive acting chairperson of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) policy research council. The remarks add to growing calls among ruling party officials for hefty spending to ease the strain from rising inflation on households. On monetary policy, Shindo said while the Bank of Japan must eventually exit ultra-easy policy, doing so now would be premature as Japan's economy and wage growth remain weak.

☆ Japanese prime minister orders investigation of Unification Church
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

TOKYO — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida ordered an investigation Monday into the Unification Church in an apparent move to calm the public outrage over his governing party’s cozy ties with the controversial group, which were revealed in the wake of Shinzo Abe’s assassination. Former Prime Minister Abe was shot to death during an outdoor campaign speech in July. The suspect, Tetsuya Yamagami, told police he killed Abe because of his apparent link to a religious group he hated. An LDP survey in September found nearly half of its lawmakers had ties to the church, including Cabinet ministers. Nagaoka, the culture minister, said she will set up a panel of legal and religious experts next week to discuss a rare investigation into a religious group.

By pointing to 2027 as the moment when East Asia's power balance may tip in China's favour, Japan's government can rally support for greater defence spending, he added. At a congressional hearing last year, U.S. Indo-Pacific commander Admiral Philip Davidson said that China's threat against Taiwan could "manifest" that year. Japanese defence ministry officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In July, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida won national upper house elections with a pledge to "substantially" increase defence spending. The splurge of defence spending should also benefit U.S. suppliers such as Lockheed, Boeing Co (BA.N) and Northrop Grumman Corp (NOC.N).

☆ Japan PM orders probe into Unification Church
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A general view of Tokyo headquarters of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, more commonly known as the Unification Church, in Tokyo, Japan August 29, 2022. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-HoonTOKYO, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida ordered an investigation on Monday into the Unification Church, after the assassination of former premier Shinzo Abe in July revealed close ties between it and the ruling party. Support for Kishida's government has tumbled to its lowest level since he took office on growing anger about the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) not fully disclosing its ties to the church. Kishida instructed the culture minister to prepare an investigation into the church under the Religious Corporations Act. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Kaori Kaneko; Editing by Stephen CoatesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

TOKYO — Even as world leaders gathered in Tokyo for the funeral of assassinated former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday, there were protests against the lavish proceedings. But the state funeral for Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, who was shot and killed while campaigning in Nara on July 8, takes place in a country deeply divided over the former leader’s legacy. In that sense, I would like to once again offer my sincere condolences to former Prime Minister Abe, who was killed by a bullet,” its leader Kenta Izumi said Tuesday. The decision on whether to hold a state funeral is usually subject to parliamentary deliberation, which was not the case for Abe's service. Around 800 people protested the state funeral at a major train station on Monday evening, according to broadcaster NTV.

Mourners offer flowers at the altar outside Nippon Budokan Hall which will host a state funeral for former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo, Japan September 27, 2022. REUTERS/Issei KatoTOKYO, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Two months after he was assassinated, Shinzo Abe is still stirring controversy, evidence of how the polarising former premier's legacy is shaping Japanese politics on everything from defence to monetary policy. Japan's longest-serving prime minister was a divisive figure who was dogged by scandals. That's a reflection of how Abe transformed both the LDP and Japan's policy landscape, experts say. That could mean more of the ultra-loose policy and fiscal stimulus set in motion under "Abenomics".

A portrait of Shinzo Abe hangs above the stage during the state funeral for Japan's former prime minister Shinzo Abe on September 27, 2022 at the Budokan in Tokyo, Japan. Several current and former heads of state visited Japan for the state funeral of Abe, who was assassinated in July while campaigning on a street. read moreIn one part of downtown Tokyo, protesters waved signs and chanted "No state funeral" to the tune of a guitar. DIVISIVE FIGUREJapan's longest-serving prime minister was a divisive figure who was dogged by scandals. read moreThe state funeral for Abe, who received a private funeral days after his assassination, was the first for an ex-premier since one in 1967 for former Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida.

☆ Japan prepares to bid farewell to slain Abe with controversial state funeral
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( Elaine Lies | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Mourners offer flowers at the altar outside Nippon Budokan Hall which will host a state funeral for former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo, Japan September 27, 2022. REUTERS/Issei KatoTOKYO, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Japan will honour on Tuesday its assassinated former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a polarising figure who dominated modern-day politics as its longest-serving leader, with a rare state funeral that has become nearly as divisive as he was. "It has a completely different meaning to a funeral for ordinary people. The sole Group of Seven leader set to join, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, cancelled in order to tackle a natural disaster at home. read moreThe state funeral for Abe, who received a private funeral days after his assassination, is the first since one in 1967 for former Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida.

☆ Factbox: Tokyo tightens security for slain Shinzo Abe's funeral
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Issei KatoTOKYO, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Japan's state funeral for former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday is under the spotlight as authorities seek to avoid the kind of security blunders exposed in his assassination in July. Japanese authorities – including Prime Minister Fumio Kishida - have acknowledged security flaws contributed to Abe's death. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau cancelled his planned attendance to focus on responding to a powerful storm. - The government plans to spend 1.65 billion yen ($11.5 million) on the funeral, including 800 million yen on security and 600 million yen to host foreign delegations. The high cost has partly fuelled a public backlash against the taxpayer-funded funeral at a time of economic hardship for many.

☆ Explainer: Why Japan is divided over Shinzo Abe's state funeral
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Japan's last fully state-funded funeral for a prime minister was for Shigeru Yoshida in 1967. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced his intention to host the state funeral six days after Abe was slain. But as evidence of links between the LDP and the Unification Church mounted and the estimated costs of the funeral rose, opinion shifted. He has acknowledged the funeral lacks overwhelming public support but has repeatedly sought to justify his decision. He has praised Abe's domestic and diplomatic contributions as well as his legacy of his lengthy tenure as reasons why a state funeral is warranted.

☆ Unification Church pledges reforms after Shinzo Abe’s killing
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-23 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

On Wednesday, a man set himself on fire near the prime minister’s office in Tokyo in an apparent protest against the state funeral. Media reports said he had a note expressing his opposition to the state funeral. Critics say the plan for a state funeral was decided undemocratically, has no legal basis, and is an inappropriate and costly use of taxpayers’ money. Political analysts say Kishida decided to hold a state funeral to please Abe’s party faction and buttress his own power. “Prime Minister Kishida should have made a decision more carefully.”

☆ Japan's funeral for divisive slain PM Shinzo Abe fuels backlash
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-23 | by ( Elaine Lies | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Some 62% of respondents in a recent poll by the Mainichi newspaper said they opposed holding a state funeral for Abe. Holding a state funeral "was a big miscalculation" for Kishida, said Tomoaki Iwai, an expert on Japanese politics and professor emeritus at Nihon University. The opposition to the funeral reflects how divisive Abe remains in Japanese society. A private funeral for Abe was held on July 12, four days after his killing. About 50 heads of state or government are expected, and media reports say Kishida may meet with around 30 of these.

☆ Japanese man sets himself on fire in apparent protest at former PM state funeral - media
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Mandatory credit Kyodo via REUTERSTOKYO, Sept 21 (Reuters) - A man set himself on fire near the Japanese prime minister's office on Wednesday in an apparent protest of the government's decision to hold a state funeral for former premier Shinzo Abe, who was assassinated earlier this year, TV Asahi reported. A letter opposing Abe's state funeral was found nearby, media added. His state funeral is set for Sept. 27, with some 6,000 people from Japan and overseas set to take part. The suspect in Abe's death has said the church bankrupted his mother and he felt the former prime minister supported it. Public sentiment was narrowly in favour of a state funeral at the time it was announced, shortly after Abe's death, but opinion has shifted sharply.

☆ Japan weighs plan for ban on hotel guests without masks -media
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterPeople wearing protective masks amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, stand in front of cross walk in Tokyo, Japan, July 25, 2022. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-HoonTOKYO, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Japan's government is considering allowing hotels to refuse entry to guests who do not wear masks and follow other measures to control infection during an outbreak, Fuji News Network said on Wednesday. read moreRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterThe ruling Liberal Democratic Party is scheduled to debate border easing measures on Thursday. Currently, the wearing of masks is not compulsory in Japan but is strongly recommended indoors and on public transport. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Rocky Swift; Editing by Raju GopalakrishnanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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