Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Attends First Dinner Outside Official Residence Since Taking Office: "Strengthening Unity With Party Executives"

First Official Engagement Outside Residence After a Month and a Half in Office
Dinner with Key Party Leaders Including Taro Aso
"Extraordinary Session Nears End... Seen as Move to Solidify Administration"

Local media reported on December 6 that Sanae Takaichi, Prime Minister of Japan, attended her first dinner gathering outside the official residence since taking office about a month and a half ago.

According to the Asahi Shimbun, Prime Minister Takaichi dined on the night of December 5 at a hotel in central Tokyo with key Liberal Democratic Party leaders, including Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso, Secretary-General Suzuki Ichi, and Election Strategy Committee Chairman Keiji Furuya. Approximately 20 people attended the dinner, which reportedly concluded after about an hour and a half.

Sanae Takaichi, Prime Minister of Japan. Yonhap News Agency

The Mainichi Shimbun analyzed that, with the supplementary budget bill set to be deliberated in the National Diet next week and the extraordinary session entering its final phase, the dinner appeared aimed at strengthening unity with party executives supporting the administration.

Since taking office on November 21, Prime Minister Takaichi has drawn attention for her routine of returning straight to her residence after official duties, unlike her predecessors. On evenings without official engagements, she is known to spend most of her time at her residence reviewing policy issues and preparing for parliamentary responses.

In contrast, previous prime ministers actively used dinner gatherings with fellow lawmakers and business leaders as opportunities for communication and information gathering. Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, for example, attended more than 10 such dinners per month after returning to power in December 2012.