The cabinet led by Sanae Takaichi, the new Prime Minister of Japan, has begun to actively pursue its policy agenda.
According to foreign media outlets such as Nihon Keizai Shimbun on the 22nd, Prime Minister Takaichi instructed Kenichiro Ueno, Minister of Environment and Labor, to review the relaxation of labor hour regulations.
Minister Ueno stated, "Taking into account the Prime Minister's directive, I intend to deepen the discussions." The labor reform law implemented in 2019 allows up to 720 hours of overtime per year, with penalties for violations.
Kimi Onoda, Minister for Foreign Nationals Policy, expressed her intention to review related systems, stating, "The public is feeling anxiety and unfairness due to crimes, nuisance behaviors, and inappropriate use of the system by some foreign nationals." She added, "The Prime Minister has instructed me to comprehensively promote the appropriate use and management of national land and to strengthen the system."
Hiroshi Hiraguchi, Minister of Justice, also conveyed that Prime Minister Takaichi had instructed the strengthening of measures against illegal stay and thorough immigration control. During the Liberal Democratic Party leadership election last month, Prime Minister Takaichi had argued that some foreign nationals were kicking deer in Nara City, Nara Prefecture, and called for stricter regulations on foreigners.
Shinjiro Koizumi, Minister of Defense, stated at the inauguration ceremony that it is necessary to consider the early revision of the three major security documents, which Prime Minister Takaichi has shown strong interest in. Regarding whether nuclear power will be included as the next-generation propulsion for the "next-generation powered submarine" mentioned in the document agreed upon between the Liberal Democratic Party and its new coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, on the 20th, he said, "No options will be excluded."
Kyodo News reported that, according to a telephone poll conducted over two days with 1,053 voters nationwide, the approval rating for the Takaichi cabinet was tallied at 64.4%. The initial approval rating for the Takaichi cabinet is 13.7 percentage points higher than that of the previous Shigeru Ishiba cabinet (50.7%).
Regarding the inauguration of Prime Minister Takaichi, Japan's first female prime minister, 76.5% of respondents said they believe it will lead to greater activity by women. As for the formation of the coalition government between the Liberal Democratic Party and the Japan Innovation Party, 64.4% responded positively, and 66.2% viewed the separation of Komeito from the Liberal Democratic Party favorably. However, regarding Prime Minister Takaichi's appointment of Koichi Hagiuda, who was involved in the Liberal Democratic Party's "slush fund scandal," as acting secretary-general, 70.2% said it was "inappropriate."
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