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This is the first time that the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications has filed criminal charges for violating the Statistics Act regarding the national census.
On the 29th, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications accused Toyama City of inflating the city's population in the 2025 census, and filed a complaint with the Toyama Prefectural Police on suspicion of violating the Statistics Act against an unnamed city employee. According to the ministry, the number of inflated figures is at least 2,000, and multiple employees may have been involved.
Population decline is accelerating and the urgent need for sustainable urban development - Census
Mayor Hirohisa Fujii responded to a press interview on the same day and apologized, saying, ``We sincerely apologize for the great inconvenience.''
According to the ministry, city officials are suspected of inflating the population by adding households to the list without basis, which census takers visiting the area had removed from the survey list as having no actual residence.
According to the final figures released by the ministry on the 29th, the city's population is 399,197. Preliminary figures released in May put the number at 402,133. Questions arose during the process of scrutinizing the data, and officials from the ministry's statistics department visited city hall earlier this month.
Asked by reporters whether there was a purpose to keep the number of people from falling below 400,000, Fujii denied it, saying, ``I don't think so.''
This is the first time that the ministry has filed criminal charges for violating the Statistics Act regarding the census. In the past, a 2010 investigation resulted in the conviction of the then deputy mayor of Higashiura Town, Aichi Prefecture, for inflating the population of the town to meet the 50,000 population required for the city to become a city.

Former Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, who is visiting China, met with Vice Premier He Lifeng and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing. The Chinese side, bearing in mind Prime Minister Takaichi's parliamentary response regarding the Taiwan emergency last November, demanded an early correction of his remarks and put a check on the Takaichi administration.

Former Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, who is visiting China, met with Vice Premier He Lifeng and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing. Mr. Wang, bearing in mind Prime Minister Takaichi's response regarding the Taiwan emergency last November, demanded that he correct his incorrect statements on the Taiwan issue. This is the first official announcement by the Chinese government of talks with a Japanese politician since relations soured.

Former Mayor Takeharu Yamanaka (54) of Yokohama City, who resigned due to power harassment issues, held a press conference in the city on the morning of the 29th and officially announced his intention to run again as an independent in the Yokohama mayoral election, which will be announced on October 4th and votes counted on the 18th. He apologized for his actions and said, ``We need to promote Yokohama from the perspective of consumers.Once again, we will sincerely face the citizens.'' Five newcomers have so far announced their intention to run for office, with Yamanaka becoming the sixth. The main focus will be on whether Mr. Yamanaka, who was found to be a power harasser, will be trusted again. Regarding integrated resorts (IRs) that include casinos, Mr. Yamanaka also emphasized, ``I feel that there is a move to re-invite resorts.'' We must firmly prevent this.''

Former Mayor Takeharu Yamanaka (54) of Yokohama City, who resigned due to power harassment issues, held a press conference in the city on the morning of the 29th and officially announced his intention to run again in the Yokohama mayoral election, which will be announced on October 4th and votes counted on the 18th. Five newcomers have announced their candidacy so far, with Yamanaka becoming the sixth. Yamanaka said, ``We need to promote Yokohama from the perspective of consumers.Once again, we must face the citizens honestly.''

Former Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, as chairman of the Japan Association for the Promotion of International Trade, led a delegation to China and met with Chinese Communist Party Politburo member and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing. Mr. Wang, bearing in mind Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's parliamentary response regarding the Taiwan crisis in November last year, asked the Japanese side to immediately correct the incorrect statements made by its leaders on the Taiwan issue. Mr. Iwaya expressed his intention to make efforts to promote economic exchange and improve Japan-China relations. The Chinese side appears to be trying to check the Gaoshi administration, and Wang emphasized the importance of a correct attitude on historical issues and the need to normalize Japan-China relations.

On the final day of the general debate at the United Nations General Assembly, China and North Korea objected to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's insistence on early deletion of the former enemy clause. China emphasized the importance of the clause and opposed it, while North Korea criticized the request for its deletion, viewing Japan as still an enemy country.