The treatment of Secretary-General Junichi Ishii is the focus of the House of Councilors Liberal Democratic Party's personnel affairs, perhaps due to his feud with the prime minister?

The treatment of Junichi Ishii, secretary-general of the House of Councilors, is the focus of the upcoming LDP reshuffle in the House of Councilors, which will coincide with the cabinet reshuffle and the reshuffling of LDP executives. This is because there has been talk of a feud with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (party president). However, House of Councilors personnel decisions are considered to be a ``sanctuary'' beyond the prime minister's authority. Depending on the response, there is a possibility that it could become a source of trouble for the administration.

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"We have to start an extraordinary Diet session the week of October 5th at the latest." In early September, Mr. Ishii told a senior administration official:

Mr. Ishii is well versed in Diet management. He has extensive connections within the ruling and opposition parties, and has played a behind-the-scenes coordinating role. The Diet calendar, which is created based on the current situation, is called the ``Ishii Calendar.''

However, during the recent special Diet session, a rift arose between him and the Prime Minister over deliberations on the 2026 budget. The prime minister has given instructions for enactment by the end of March. In response, the House of Representatives significantly shortened deliberations and passed the bill, but the House of Councillors, which does not have a majority, prioritized coordination with opposition parties, and the bill's passage was pushed back over the fiscal year to April.

The Prime Minister is said to be dissatisfied with this result and to take aim at Mr. Ishii. People close to the prime minister criticized him, saying, ``Mr. Ishii is working with opposition parties to harass the prime minister.'' The prime minister does not hide his alarm over Mr. Ishii's formation of a group of more than 40 members.

However, the actual authority over the personnel affairs of the House of Councilors Liberal Democratic Party rests with the chairman of the House of Councilors. Successive governments have not openly interfered.

Within the party, all eyes are on whether Seiji Matsuyama, chairman of the House of Councilors, will listen to the prime minister's ``intentions'' and replace Mr. Ishii. During the special Diet session, Mr. Matsuyama, who was the prime minister's point of contact with the Prime Minister's Office, was at times at odds with Mr. Ishii regarding the management of the Diet.

A mid-ranking member of the party said, ``Mr. Matsuyama may also be replaced if the prime minister asks him to do so.'' On the other hand, there is a strong voice within the party that says, ``There is no one who knows more about national relations than Mr. Ishii.''

Mr. Ishii is bullish. Recently, he was asked about his future plans by a related party, and he responded as follows. "I think it doesn't matter anymore. If I'm removed, I'm useless."