The Latest Breaking News from Diet

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida plans to rebuild his administration following the dismissal of Reconstruction Minister Kenya Akiba, now that a major distraction has been removed before the start of the ordinary Diet session in January.

Diet member Kentaro Sonoura of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party has decided to resign from the House of Representatives over a political funds scandal, according to sources close to the matter.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida took a leading role in discussions on securing financial resources to drastically boost defense spending, positioning the amount and the way to secure funds as non-negotiable while referring to "Japan's responsibility" to its ally, the United States, and friendly countries in Europe.

The extraordinary session of the Diet that came to a close Saturday was shaken by the resignations of three Cabinet ministers, an unusual development that was problematic for Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

A bill intended to prevent damage from unscrupulous solicitations for large donations by groups such as the Unification Church was passed into law Saturday by a majority vote in the House of Councillors.

Following the latest resignation from Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's Cabinet, it has become almost impossible for the government to pass a second supplementary budget for fiscal 2022 before the end of this month as originally planned.

For the third time in a month, a member of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's Cabinet has resigned.

Even within his own party, faith in Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's leadership has been shaken following Friday's replacement of a Cabinet minister over a gaffe on the death penalty, because Kishida initially failed to take such action even the day after the remarks.

In connection with issues involving the Unification Church, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated Tuesday that the government will submit a new bill to the Diet to prevent damage, including large donations demanded by religious organizations, and to provide relief to those who have fallen victim to such organizations.

Former Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan delivered a eulogy for former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at a plenary session of the House of Representatives on Tuesday afternoon.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Tuesday appointed Shigeyuki Goto, who served as the health, labor and welfare minister in his first Cabinet, as economic revitalization minister.