
AI-generated summary
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Yan Kazuo has been criticized for saying that he has drastically cut the road budgets of local governments whose leaders did not support him in the House of Representatives election, and has been criticized as political retaliation. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi responded to this issue in a question asked by representatives of each party in response to his policy speech.
At the plenary session of the House of Councilors on the 9th, representatives from each party asked questions about Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's policy speech for the second day. Regarding the issue of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Kazuo Yan's statement that he had ``significantly cut'' the road budgets of local governments whose leaders did not support him in the House of Representatives election, the prime minister said, ``It is important for him to explain it properly. I would like him to give a thorough explanation.''
Prime Minister Takaichi gives ``severe warning'' to Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Yan, orders his continued appointment, opposition parties demand resignation
Yasue Funayama, chairman of the House of Councilors of the Democratic Party of the People, responded to the request that the person with the authority to make appointments, including the possibility of dismissal, take action. The prime minister also said, ``I am responsible for appointing cabinet members.''
Mr. Funayama also brought up the prime minister's goal of reducing the consumption tax on food products, and asked what measures the national government would take to address the decline in local government revenues. The prime minister announced, ``We will make up for the full amount of the decrease in local consumption tax revenue with national funds.We will appropriately secure the necessary total amount of local allocation tax.'' ``We will take measures to ensure that local financial management is not disrupted,'' he said.
When asked about the effect of the consumption tax cut on reducing the burden on households, the prime minister replied, ``The tax rate reduction is basically reflected in prices.'' Regarding the specific amount of the reduction, he stated that the figure is ``approximately 360,000 yen per citizen,'' which is calculated by mechanically dividing the national and local revenue reduction by the population.
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Yan provides a detailed explanation of the road budget cut statement.
Likely · Within days
Specific financial resources measures will be presented to compensate for the decrease in local consumption tax revenue.
Possible · Within weeks

At a cabinet meeting on the 9th, the government approved a bill to reduce the consumption tax on food products from the current 8% to 1% for two years starting April 2027. It will also include an income-linked ``employee burden reduction support subsidy,'' which will require approximately 10 trillion yen in financial resources over two years. The bill will be submitted to an extraordinary session of the Diet, with the aim of having it enacted by the end of the session on December 12th.

The ruling and opposition parties engaged in a debate over a bill related to the consumption tax reduction during questions asked by representatives of the extraordinary Diet session. Opposition parties asked for a clear statement of financial sources and an explanation of the benefit system, but Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi merely reiterated the government's policy and avoided explaining specific payment requirements or the breakdown of financial resources. The bill is expected to be debated in the plenary session of the House of Representatives on the 20th, but there is no clear connection between the ruling and opposition parties.

The Nippon Hidankyo held a national meeting of prefectural representatives in Tokyo to discuss the future of the organization as the population continues to age. Many prefectural organizations were against the idea of disbanding, and there were a number of calls for the organizations to continue to exist in cooperation with second-generation atomic bomb survivors and supporters.

Prime Minister Takaichi revealed during a question by a member of the House of Representatives that he had given a harsh warning to Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Yan, who had made remarks about cutting local government budgets. Opposition parties demanded his dismissal and a ministry-wide investigation, but the prime minister denied his dismissal and instructed him to fulfill his duties. Yan also apologized.

Questions from representatives of each party were held on the 8th regarding Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's policy speech. The Prime Minister stated that financial resources such as food consumption tax cuts and handouts will be secured through a review of both expenditures and revenues, rather than relying on deficit-financing national bonds, and has postponed specific measures until the end of the year.

In its regional economic report, the Bank of Japan upwardly revised its economic outlook for two of the country's nine regions, Tohoku and Shikoku. In addition, several news stories occurred in the political, economic, social, and scientific fields, including the Tokyo High Court revoking the decision to invalidate the Tochigi/Nasu mayor's election, and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Yan Yan stating that he will do his best to carry out his duties. There were also reports regarding the Nobel Prize, the US Federal Reserve's suggestion of an interest rate hike, and the appointment of a new manager for professional baseball Chunichi.