Lower House Speaker Hiroyuki Hosoda described the ties between the Unification Church and slain former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as “deep” and dating back to “ancient times.”
For the second year in a row, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida attended a New Year’s gathering of Japan’s largest labor organization, backing its efforts for employees’ pay hikes.
Few candidates campaigning in the July 10 Upper House election are even bothering to pitch COVID-19 as an issue, reflecting dwindling interest among voters as new cases have yet to hit alarming levels.
Junior coalition partner Komeito appears to be easing its opposition and leaning toward allowing Japan to strike enemy bases that are preparing to attack the country.