Japan Diet begins debate on dual surname bill for 1st time in 28 yrs

Japan Diet begins debate on dual surname bill for 1st time in 28 yrs

Japan's House of Representatives' judicial affairs committee begins its first deliberations in 28 years on legislation that would give married couples the option of using separate surnames in Tokyo on May 30, 2025.

Japan Diet begins debate on dual surname bill for 1st time in 28 yrs

Japan Diet begins debate on dual surname bill for 1st time in 28 yrs

Japan's House of Representatives' judicial affairs committee begins its first deliberations in 28 years on legislation that would give married couples the option of using separate surnames in Tokyo on May 30, 2025.

UK: Protesters Gather Outside Glasgow Hampden Park Ahead Of Women’s Euro 2025 Qualifier Versus Israel

Protesters gathered outside Hampden Park stadium in Glasgow on Friday, May 31, ahead of the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 qualifier match between Scotland and Israel to protest against Israel's military operation in Gaza.

UK: Pro-Palestine Protest In Glasgow Ahead Of World Athletics Indoor Championships

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered in Glasgow on Tuesday, February 27, ahead of the World Athletics Indoor Championships, which will start on March 1, protesting against the participation of Israeli athletes.

Japan's controversial revision of immigration law

Japan's controversial revision of immigration law

People gather in front of the Diet building in Tokyo on June 8, 2023, to protest against the House of Councillors Judicial Affairs Committee's approval the same day of a bill that would amend an immigration law enabling authorities to deport individuals who repeatedly apply for refugee status.

Japan's controversial revision of immigration law

Japan's controversial revision of immigration law

People gather in front of the Diet building in Tokyo on June 8, 2023, to protest against the House of Councillors Judicial Affairs Committee's approval the same day of a bill that would amend an immigration law enabling authorities to deport individuals who repeatedly apply for refugee status.

Japan's controversial revision of immigration law

Japan's controversial revision of immigration law

People gather in front of the Diet building in Tokyo on June 8, 2023, to protest against the House of Councillors Judicial Affairs Committee's approval the same day of a bill that would amend an immigration law enabling authorities to deport individuals who repeatedly apply for refugee status.

Japan's controversial revision of immigration law

Japan's controversial revision of immigration law

People gather in front of the Diet building in Tokyo on June 8, 2023, to protest against the House of Councillors Judicial Affairs Committee's approval the same day of a bill that would amend an immigration law enabling authorities to deport individuals who repeatedly apply for refugee status.

Japan's controversial revision of immigration law

Japan's controversial revision of immigration law

People gather in front of the Diet building in Tokyo on June 8, 2023, to protest against the House of Councillors Judicial Affairs Committee's approval the same day of a bill that would amend an immigration law enabling authorities to deport individuals who repeatedly apply for refugee status.

Japan's controversial revision of immigration law

Japan's controversial revision of immigration law

People gather in front of the Diet building in Tokyo on June 8, 2023, to protest against the House of Councillors Judicial Affairs Committee's approval the same day of a bill that would amend an immigration law enabling authorities to deport individuals who repeatedly apply for refugee status.

Rally against Japan's controversial revision of immigration law

Rally against Japan's controversial revision of immigration law

People rally in front of the Diet building in Tokyo on June 5, 2023, in opposition to a controversial bill that would amend an immigration law enabling authorities to deport individuals who repeatedly apply for refugee status, before Japan's House of Councillors Judicial Affairs Committee passes the bill on June 6 and the Upper House plenary session on June 7.

Rally against Japan's controversial revision of immigration law

Rally against Japan's controversial revision of immigration law

People rally in front of the Diet building in Tokyo on June 5, 2023, in opposition to a controversial bill that would amend an immigration law enabling authorities to deport individuals who repeatedly apply for refugee status, before Japan's House of Councillors Judicial Affairs Committee passes the bill on June 6 and the Upper House plenary session on June 7.

Mizuho Bank chief in Diet

Mizuho Bank chief in Diet

TOKYO, Japan - Mizuho Bank President Yasuhiro Sato attends a meeting of the House of Councillors' Committee on Financial Affairs at the Diet building in Tokyo on Nov. 21, 2013, to testify on a scandal involving the bank over loans to members of organized crime groups.

Mizuho Bank chief summoned to Diet

Mizuho Bank chief summoned to Diet

TOKYO, Japan - Mizuho Bank President Yasuhiro Sato speaks during a meeting of the House of Representatives' Committee on Financial Affairs at the Diet building in Tokyo on Nov. 13, 2013. Sato was summoned as an unsworn witness to the committee over a scandal involving loans to organized crime groups.

Mizuho Bank chief summoned to Diet

Mizuho Bank chief summoned to Diet

TOKYO, Japan - Mizuho Bank President Yasuhiro Sato (3rd from L) attends a meeting of the House of Representatives' Committee on Financial Affairs at the Diet building in Tokyo on Nov. 13, 2013. Sato was summoned as an unsworn witness to the committee over a scandal involving loans to organized crime groups.

Tarutoko plans candidacy for DPJ leadership

Tarutoko plans candidacy for DPJ leadership

TOKYO, Japan - Shinji Tarutoko (C) of the Democratic Party of Japan receives applause from fellow DPJ members belonging to a faction he leads, at a meeting in Tokyo on Aug. 11, 2011. Tarutoko's aides said the same day that the fifth-term lower house member, the former chairman of the DPJ's Diet Affairs Committee, plans to run in the governing party's leadership election, expected to be called in late August.

Tarutoko plans candidacy for DPJ leadership

Tarutoko plans candidacy for DPJ leadership

TOKYO, Japan - Undated file photo shows Shinji Tarutoko of the Democratic Party of Japan. Tarutoko's aides said on Aug. 11, 2011 that the fifth-term lower house member, the former chairman of the DPJ's Diet Affairs Committee, plans to run in the governing party's leadership election, expected to be called in late August.

New DPJ Diet affairs chief Hachiro

New DPJ Diet affairs chief Hachiro

TOKYO, Japan - Yoshio Hachiro, new chairman of the Democratic Party of Japan's Diet Affairs Committee, speaks at a press conference in Tokyo on Sept. 17, 2010. Hachiro is expected to steer the divided Diet in which the ruling camp controls the House of Representatives while the opposition bloc holds a majority in the House of Councillors.

New DPJ Diet affairs chief Hachiro

New DPJ Diet affairs chief Hachiro

TOKYO, Japan - Yoshio Hachiro, new chairman of the Democratic Party of Japan's Diet Affairs Committee, speaks at a press conference in Tokyo on Sept. 17, 2010. Hachiro is expected to steer the divided Diet in which the ruling camp controls the House of Representatives while the opposition bloc holds a majority in the House of Councillors.

Japan's new education minister Takaki

Japan's new education minister Takaki

TOKYO, Japan - Yoshiaki Takaki, a veteran lower house member, enters the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Sept. 17, 2010, after being named as education minister in Prime Minister Naoto Kan's reshuffled Cabinet. Takaki has taken key political posts such as vice president of the Democratic Party of Japan and chief of the party's Diet Affairs Committee.

BOJ's Shirakawa at Diet panel

BOJ's Shirakawa at Diet panel

TOKYO, Japan - Bank of Japan Governor Masaaki Shirakawa speaks during a meeting of the House of Representatives Financial Affairs Committee on Sept. 8, 2010, in Tokyo, attended by Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda (L), and Financial Services Minister Shozaburo Jimi (2nd from L). Shirakawa said the BOJ will further ease its monetary policy to boost the economy, if risks to growth become clear.

BOJ's Shirakawa at Diet panel

BOJ's Shirakawa at Diet panel

TOKYO, Japan - Bank of Japan Governor Masaaki Shirakawa speaks during a meeting of the House of Representatives Financial Affairs Committee on Sept. 8, 2010, in Tokyo. Shirakawa said the central bank will further ease its monetary policy to boost the economy, if risks to growth become clear.

Opposition parties submit no-confidence motion against Cabinet

Opposition parties submit no-confidence motion against Cabinet

TOKYO, Japan - Kenji Yamaoka (3rd from R), chairman of the Diet Affairs Committee of the leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan, submits a no-confidence motion against the Cabinet to House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono at the Diet building in Tokyo on July 13.

Tamogami calls in Diet for revising Constitution

Tamogami calls in Diet for revising Constitution

TOKYO, Japan - Former Air Self-Defense Force chief of staff Toshio Tamogami speaks during a session of the House of Councillors' Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense in Tokyo on Nov. 11. Tamogami attended the session as an unsworn witness to testify about his controversial essay on Japan's role in World War II.

Tamogami calls in Diet for revising Constitution

Tamogami calls in Diet for revising Constitution

TOKYO, Japan - Former Air Self-Defense Force chief of staff Toshio Tamogami speaks during a session of the House of Councillors' Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense in Tokyo on Nov. 11. Tamogami attended the session as an unsworn witness to testify about his controversial essay on Japan's role in World War II.

Diet panels to file perjury charges against Moriya

Diet panels to file perjury charges against Moriya

TOKYO, Japan - The House of Representatives committee on antiterrorism and Iraq reconstruction affairs votes unanimously on Jan. 15 to file perjury charges against former Vice Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya in connection with his sworn testimony on his relationships with Motonobu Miyazaki, a former executive of defense equipment trader Yamada Corp. The House of Councillors committee on foreign affairs and defense unanimously approved a similar motion the same day. Moriya and Miyazaki have been arrested and indicted on bribery charges in connection with equipment procurement by the Defense Ministry.

LDP's Nikai meets with Wu in Beijing

LDP's Nikai meets with Wu in Beijing

BEIJING, China - Toshihiro Nikai (L), Diet Affairs Committee chairman of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, shakes hands with Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress prior to their talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Jan. 22.

Aso speaks to Diet committee about isle dispute with S. Korea

Aso speaks to Diet committee about isle dispute with S. Korea

TOKYO, Japan - Foreign Minister Taro Aso responds to questions in a session of the House of Representatives' Committee on Foreign Affairs about Tokyo's plan to conduct a maritime survey near disputed islets.

DPJ urges Morioka to give up post over remarks on war criminals

DPJ urges Morioka to give up post over remarks on war criminals

TOKYO, Japan - Yoshio Hachiro, chairman of the Democratic Party of Japan Diet Affairs Committee, speaks at a press conference in the Diet building on May 27. He demanded that Masahiro Morioka resign as parliamentary secretary for health, labor and welfare for saying Class-A war criminals are no longer regarded as criminals in Japan. Hachiro said Morioka's remarks ''deserve resignation because they are totally inconsistent with the Cabinet's policy.''

(1)LDP leaders in Beijing

(1)LDP leaders in Beijing

BEIJING, China - Hidenao Nakagawa (2nd from L), chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party's Diet Affairs Committee, and former LDP Secretary General Makoto Koga (L) are in talks with Chinese State Councillor Tan Jiaxuan (R) in Beijing on Jan. 11.

(2)LDP leaders in Beijing

(2)LDP leaders in Beijing

BEIJING, China - Hidenao Nakagawa (R), chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party's Diet Affairs Committee, and Chinese State Councillor Tan Jiaxuan (L) greet each other prior to their talks in Beijing on Jan. 11.

House panel head opposes Nogami's nomination as UK envoy

House panel head opposes Nogami's nomination as UK envoy

TOKYO, Japan - Teruhiko Mashiko, a Democrataic Party of Japan member of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, releases a statement by the panel's chairman Takashi Yonezawa at a press conference at the Diet building in Tokyo on Aug. 31. Yonezawa, who is currently on an overseas trip abroad, expressed opposition to the goverment's plan to name former Vice Foreign Minister Yoshiji Nogami as ambassador to Britain.

JCP lawmaker to quit party post for failure to pay pension premiums

JCP lawmaker to quit party post for failure to pay pension premiums

TOKYO, Japan - Hidekatsu Yoshii (fore), a senior House of Representatives member of the Japanese Communist Party, walks out after giving a press conference in the Diet building May 6. He admitted that he has not paid pension premiums for more than 15 years and will quit the post of vice chairman of the Diet affairs committee in the party's lower house caucus.

Diet passes amendment allowing N. Korea sanctions

Diet passes amendment allowing N. Korea sanctions

TOKYO, Japan - Members of the House of Councillors' Financial Affairs Committee raise their hands on Feb. 9 to show their approval for a bill to revise the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Control Law, allowing the government to unilaterally impose economic sanctions on North Korea. The bill later cleared parliament after being endorsed by an upper house plenary session.

Top bankers criticize Takenaka's bank policy

Top bankers criticize Takenaka's bank policy

TOKYO, Japan - The heads of Japan's four major banking groups criticize Financial Services Minister Heizo Takenaka's bank policy in Diet testimony Dec. 3. The House of Councillors Financial Affairs Committee summoned as unsworn witnesses (from R to L) Terunobu Maeda, president of Mizuho Holdings Inc., Shigemitsu Miki, president of Mitsubishi Tokyo Financial Group Inc., Masashi Teranishi, president of UFJ Bank, and Yoshifumi Nishikawa, president of Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc.

Top bankers call for careful approach in corporate revival

Top bankers call for careful approach in corporate revival

TOKYO, Nov. 15 Kyodo - Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. President Yoshifumi Nishikawa (standing) testifies to the House of Representatives Financial Affairs Committee in the Diet in Tokyo on Nov. 15. Mizuho Holdings Inc. President Terunobu Maeda sits at Nishikawa's left and UFJ Bank President Masashi Teranishi at Nishikawa's right. At right is Mitsubishi Tokyo Financial Group Inc. President Shigemitsu Miki.

Kin of 2 women believed abducted by N. Korea address Diet

Kin of 2 women believed abducted by N. Korea address Diet

TOKYO, Japan - The parents of two young women allegedly abducted by North Korean agents address a session of the Committee of Foreign and Security Affairs at the House of Councillors on April 18. They asked the government to resolve the cases as quickly as possible. From L to R are Kayoko and Akihiro Arimoto, whose daughter Keiko went missing in 1983, and Sakie and Shigeru Yokota, whose 13-year-old daughter Megumi vanished in 1977.

Mizuho's Maeda testifies in Diet

Mizuho's Maeda testifies in Diet

TOKYO, Japan - Terunobu Maeda, president of Mizuho Holdings Inc. troubled with a prolonged computer glitch, speaks in testimony at the House of Councillors Financial Affairs Committee on April 16. Maeda said he will consider how to take responsibility after solving the problems and working out countermeasures.

Mizuho president summoned to Diet to explain problems

Mizuho president summoned to Diet to explain problems

TOKYO, Japan - Mizuho Holdings Inc. President Terunobu Maeda (R) bows to Finance Minister Masajuro Shiokawa (L) in a gesture of apology as he was summoned to the House of Representatives committee on financial affairs to explain a series of computer problems involving two Mizuho banks.

Opposition ready to seek Suzuki's resignation

Opposition ready to seek Suzuki's resignation

TOKYO, Japan - The Diet affairs committee chairmen of four major opposition parties agree March 12 to submit a joint resolution to the Diet the same day calling for the resignation of scandal-hit lawmaker Muneo Suzuki.

(7)Suzuki gives testimony at lower house committee

(7)Suzuki gives testimony at lower house committee

TOKYO, Japan - Muneo Suzuki, a House of Representatives member, leaves the Diet on March 11 after finishing his testimony at the house's Budget Committee session over allegations of his involvement in Foreign Ministry affairs.

Senior Foreign Ministry official admits Suzuki's role

Senior Foreign Ministry official admits Suzuki's role

TOKYO, Japan - Toshinori Shigeie, director general of the Foreign Ministry's Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau, admits at the House of Representatives' Budget Committee in the Diet in Tokyo on Jan. 28 that Muneo Suzuki, a senior lawmaker of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, pressured the ministry to bar two Japanese nongovernmental organizations from an international donors' conference on Afghanistan.

LDP proposes 1-yr, 10% pay cut for lawmakers

LDP proposes 1-yr, 10% pay cut for lawmakers

TOKYO, Japan - Diet affairs committee heads from the three ruling parties discuss slashing lawmakers' monthly salaries at the Diet in Tokyo on Jan. 16. The Liberal Democratic Party proposed to the New Komeito party and the New Conservative Party that salaries be cut 10% for one year.

Opposition plans no-confidence motion over mad cow

Opposition plans no-confidence motion over mad cow

TOKYO, Japan - Naoto Kan, secretary general of the major opposition Democratic Party of Japan, leaves a Tokyo hotel room Jan. 11 after meeting with counterparts from the Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party and the Japanese Communist Party's Diet affairs committee chairman. They agreed to work together in the upcoming Diet session on submitting a no-confidence motion against farm minister Tsutomu Takebe over his handling of the recent cases of mad cow disease in Japan.

Upper house panel passes SDF bill for U.S.-led operations

Upper house panel passes SDF bill for U.S.-led operations

TOKYO, Japan - Lawmakers from the ruling coalition parties raise their hands at meeting of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee of the House of Councillors at the Diet in Tokyo on Oct. 26 to approve a bill allowing Japan's Self-Defense Forces (SDF) to lend noncombat support to the U.S.-led antiterrorism campaign. The bill and two additional bills are expected to pass the upper house's plenary session on Oct. 29.

Diet panel chief wants Status of Forces pact to be revised

Diet panel chief wants Status of Forces pact to be revised

NAHA, Japan - Muneo Suzuki, acting chairman of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, speaks at a news conference at the end of a visit to Okinawa on July 5. Suzuki said a Japan-U.S. pact on U.S. forces in Japan must be revised after a U.S. airman allegedly raped an Okinawan woman June 29.

Tanaka appears before committee

Tanaka appears before committee

TOKYO, Japan - Embattled Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka is in talks with her aides June 27 before taking the rostrum at the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee to offer her apologies for trying to restrict Diet questioning by Muneo Suzuki (R), her political foe.

Tanaka offers apologies

Tanaka offers apologies

TOKYO, Japan - Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka offers her apologies at a session of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee over trying to restrict Diet questioning by a political foe. Later the chairman of the committee, Ryuichi Doi, criticized Tanaka for what he called her insincere apologies.

Tanaka apologizes to lower house committee, clarifies request

Tanaka apologizes to lower house committee, clarifies request

TOKYO, Japan - Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka speaks June 22 at a session of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee in the Diet in Tokyo to clarify her request to restrict questioning by a fellow Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker. She apologized for causing misunderstanding with the request.

Tanaka intent on investigating reported fund misuse by envoy

Tanaka intent on investigating reported fund misuse by envoy

TOKYO, Japan - Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka listens to a question from a lawmaker at a session of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee in the Diet on June 13. She indicated she will thoroughly investigate the reported use of taxpayers' money by a former Japanese ambassador to Cuba for private purposes.