Emperor meets with lawmakers at palace

Emperor meets with lawmakers at palace

Japanese Emperor Naruhito (back, C) chats during a tea party for lawmakers at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on April 27, 2026, attended by House of Representatives Speaker Eisuke Mori (back, L) and House of Councillors President Masakazu Sekiguchi (back, R).

Emperor meets with lawmakers at palace

Emperor meets with lawmakers at palace

House of Representatives Speaker Eisuke Mori (L) and House of Councillors President Masakazu Sekiguchi attend a meeting between Japanese Emperor Naruhito (not pictured) and lawmakers at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on April 27, 2026.

Emperor meets with lawmakers at palace

Emperor meets with lawmakers at palace

Japanese Emperor Naruhito (far R) speaks during a meeting with lawmakers including House of Representatives Speaker Eisuke Mori and House of Councillors President Masakazu Sekiguchi at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on April 27, 2026.

Emperor meets with lawmakers at palace

Emperor meets with lawmakers at palace

Japanese Emperor Naruhito (far R) speaks during a meeting with lawmakers including House of Representatives Speaker Eisuke Mori and House of Councillors President Masakazu Sekiguchi at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on April 27, 2026.

Emperor meets with lawmakers at palace

Emperor meets with lawmakers at palace

House of Representatives Speaker Eisuke Mori (L) and House of Councillors President Masakazu Sekiguchi attend a meeting between Japanese Emperor Naruhito (not pictured) and lawmakers at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on April 27, 2026.

Emperor meets with lawmakers at palace

Emperor meets with lawmakers at palace

Japanese Emperor Naruhito speaks during a meeting with lawmakers including House of Representatives Speaker Eisuke Mori and House of Councillors President Masakazu Sekiguchi at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on April 27, 2026.

[Breaking News]Lawmakers at Tokyo's Yasukuni shrine

TOKYO, Japan, April 22 Kyodo - A cross-party group of Japanese lawmakers visits the war-linked Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo on the occasion of its three-day spring festival on April 22, 2026. (Kyodo)

Lawmakers at Tokyo's Yasukuni shrine

Lawmakers at Tokyo's Yasukuni shrine

Ichiro Aisawa (C), who heads a cross-party group of Japanese lawmakers, speaks during a press conference after the group visited the war-linked Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo on April 22, 2026, during its three-day spring festival.

Lawmakers at Tokyo's Yasukuni shrine

Lawmakers at Tokyo's Yasukuni shrine

Minoru Kiuchi (R), Japanese economic and fiscal policy minister, meets the press after visiting the war-linked Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo on April 22, 2026, during its three-day spring festival.

Lawmakers at Tokyo's Yasukuni shrine

Lawmakers at Tokyo's Yasukuni shrine

A cross-party group of Japanese lawmakers visits the war-linked Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo on the occasion of its three-day spring festival on April 22, 2026.

[Breaking News]Special Diet session

TOKYO, Japan, Feb. 18 Kyodo - Japanese lawmakers arrive at the parliament building in Tokyo on Feb. 18, 2026, for a special session following the Feb. 8 general election. (Kyodo)

Special Diet session

Special Diet session

Japanese lawmakers arrive at the parliament building in Tokyo on Feb. 18, 2026, for a special session following the Feb. 8 general election.

Special Diet session

Special Diet session

Japanese lawmakers arrive at the parliament building in Tokyo on Feb. 18, 2026, for a special session following the Feb. 8 general election.

Special Diet session

Special Diet session

Japanese lawmakers arrive at the parliament building in Tokyo on Feb. 18, 2026, for a special session following the Feb. 8 general election.

Special Diet session

Special Diet session

Japanese lawmakers arrive at the parliament building in Tokyo on Feb. 18, 2026, for a special session following the Feb. 8 general election.

Special Diet session

Special Diet session

Japanese lawmakers arrive at the parliament building in Tokyo on Feb. 18, 2026, for a special session following the Feb. 8 general election.

Special Diet session

Special Diet session

Japanese lawmakers arrive at the parliament building in Tokyo on Feb. 18, 2026, for a special session following the Feb. 8 general election.

Special Diet session

Special Diet session

Japanese lawmakers arrive at the parliament building in Tokyo on Feb. 18, 2026, for a special session following the Feb. 8 general election.

Special Diet session

Special Diet session

Japanese lawmakers arrive at the parliament building in Tokyo on Feb. 18, 2026, for a special session following the Feb. 8 general election.

Special Diet session

Special Diet session

Japanese lawmakers arrive at the parliament building in Tokyo on Feb. 18, 2026, for a special session following the Feb. 8 general election.

Japan PM dissolves lower house for snap general election

Japan PM dissolves lower house for snap general election

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C) and other lawmakers from her Liberal Democratic Party raise their fists in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, after she dissolved the House of Representatives earlier in the day for a snap general election on Feb. 8.

Japan PM dissolves lower house for snap general election

Japan PM dissolves lower house for snap general election

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C) and other lawmakers from her Liberal Democratic Party raise their fists in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, after she dissolved the House of Representatives earlier in the day for a snap general election on Feb. 8.

Japan PM Takaichi dissolves lower house

Japan PM Takaichi dissolves lower house

Japanese lawmakers leave the House of Representatives chamber in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi dissolved the lower house during its plenary session for a snap election on Feb. 8.

Japan PM Takaichi dissolves lower house

Japan PM Takaichi dissolves lower house

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi bows while lawmakers throw their arms in the air for a customary "banzai" in parliament in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, after the House of Representatives was dissolved for a snap election on Feb. 8.

Japan PM Takaichi dissolves lower house

Japan PM Takaichi dissolves lower house

Japanese lawmakers throw their arms in the air for a customary "banzai" in parliament in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi dissolves the House of Representatives for a snap election on Feb. 8.

Japan PM Takaichi dissolves lower house

Japan PM Takaichi dissolves lower house

Japanese lawmakers throw their arms in the air for a customary "banzai" in parliament in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi dissolves the House of Representatives for a snap election on Feb. 8.

Japan PM Takaichi dissolves lower house

Japan PM Takaichi dissolves lower house

Japanese lawmakers throw their arms in the air for a customary "banzai" in parliament in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi dissolves the House of Representatives for a snap election on Feb. 8.

Japan lawmakers visit Yasukuni shrine

Japan lawmakers visit Yasukuni shrine

Ichiro Aisawa (L), leader of a cross-party group of Japanese lawmakers for visiting Yasukuni Shrine, speaks during a press conference after the group's visit to the war-linked Shinto shrine in Tokyo on the occasion of the shrine's three-day autumn festival on Oct. 17, 2025.

Japan lawmakers visit Yasukuni shrine

Japan lawmakers visit Yasukuni shrine

A cross-party group of Japanese lawmakers visits the war-linked Yasukuni shrine on the occasion of the Shinto shrine's three-day autumn festival on Oct. 17, 2025.

Japan lawmakers visit Yasukuni shrine

Japan lawmakers visit Yasukuni shrine

A cross-party group of Japanese lawmakers visits the war-linked Yasukuni shrine on the occasion of the Shinto shrine's three-day autumn festival on Oct. 17, 2025.

Japan lawmakers visit Yasukuni shrine

Japan lawmakers visit Yasukuni shrine

A cross-party group of Japanese lawmakers visits the war-linked Yasukuni shrine on the occasion of the Shinto shrine's three-day autumn festival on Oct. 17, 2025.

Japan lawmakers visit Yasukuni shrine

Japan lawmakers visit Yasukuni shrine

A cross-party group of Japanese lawmakers, including Sanseito party leader Sohei Kamiya (foreground L), visits the war-linked Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo on the occasion of the Shinto shrine's three-day autumn festival on Oct. 17, 2025.

Japan lawmakers visit Yasukuni shrine

Japan lawmakers visit Yasukuni shrine

A cross-party group of Japanese lawmakers visits the war-linked Yasukuni shrine on the occasion of the Shinto shrine's three-day autumn festival on Oct. 17, 2025.

Japan LDP leadership election

Japan LDP leadership election

Former Japanese internal affairs minister Sanae Takaichi (R) holds hands with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at a meeting of Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers of both houses of the Diet at the party's headquarters in Tokyo on Oct. 4, 2025, after winning the ruling party's presidential election in a runoff vote.

Japan LDP leadership election

Japan LDP leadership election

Former Japanese internal affairs minister Sanae Takaichi (R) holds hands with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at a meeting of Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers of both houses of the Diet at the party's headquarters in Tokyo on Oct. 4, 2025, after winning the ruling party's presidential election in a runoff vote.

Japan LDP leadership election

Japan LDP leadership election

Former Japanese internal affairs minister Sanae Takaichi (C) acknowledges fellow Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers at the ruling party's headquarters in Tokyo on Oct. 4, 2025, after winning the party's presidential election in a runoff vote. (Pool photo)

Japan LDP leadership election

Japan LDP leadership election

Former Japanese internal affairs minister Sanae Takaichi (facing camera) acknowledges fellow Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers at the ruling party's headquarters in Tokyo on Oct. 4, 2025, after winning the party's presidential election in a runoff vote.

Japan LDP leadership election

Japan LDP leadership election

Former Japanese internal affairs minister Sanae Takaichi (facing camera) acknowledges fellow Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers at the ruling party's headquarters in Tokyo on Oct. 4, 2025, after winning the party's presidential election in a runoff vote.

Japan LDP leadership election

Japan LDP leadership election

Former Japanese internal affairs minister Sanae Takaichi (C) acknowledges fellow Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers at the ruling party's headquarters in Tokyo on Oct. 4, 2025, after winning the party's presidential election in a runoff vote.

Japan LDP leadership election

Japan LDP leadership election

Former Japanese internal affairs minister Sanae Takaichi bows to fellow Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers at the ruling party's headquarters in Tokyo on Oct. 4, 2025, after winning the party's presidential election in a runoff vote.

Japan LDP leadership election

Japan LDP leadership election

Former Japanese internal affairs minister Sanae Takaichi acknowledges fellow Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers at the ruling party's headquarters in Tokyo on Oct. 4, 2025, after winning the party's presidential election in a runoff vote.

Japan LDP leadership election

Japan LDP leadership election

Former Japanese internal affairs minister Sanae Takaichi acknowledges fellow Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers at the ruling party's headquarters in Tokyo on Oct. 4, 2025, after winning the party's presidential election in a runoff vote.

Japan LDP leadership election

Japan LDP leadership election

Former Japanese internal affairs minister Sanae Takaichi acknowledges fellow Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers at the ruling party's headquarters in Tokyo on Oct. 4, 2025, after winning the party's presidential election in a runoff vote.

Japan's ruling LDP lawmakers' meeting

Japan's ruling LDP lawmakers' meeting

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, chief of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, speaks at a joint plenary meeting of the party's lawmakers from both houses of parliament at the LDP'S headquarters in Tokyo on Sept. 2, 2025.

Japan's ruling LDP lawmakers' meeting

Japan's ruling LDP lawmakers' meeting

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (L), chief of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, speaks at a joint plenary meeting of the party's lawmakers from both houses of parliament at the LDP'S headquarters in Tokyo on Sept. 2, 2025. Sitting next to him is Hiroshi Moriyama, secretary general of the party.

Japan's ruling LDP lawmakers' meeting

Japan's ruling LDP lawmakers' meeting

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, chief of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, heads for a joint plenary meeting of the party's lawmakers from both houses of parliament at the LDP'S headquarters in Tokyo on Sept. 2, 2025.

Yasukuni shrine visit on end of WWII anniv.

Yasukuni shrine visit on end of WWII anniv.

Members of a cross-party group of Japanese lawmakers visit the war-linked Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo on Aug. 15, 2025, the 80th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II.

Yasukuni shrine visit on end of WWII anniv.

Yasukuni shrine visit on end of WWII anniv.

Members of a cross-party group of Japanese lawmakers visit the war-linked Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo on Aug. 15, 2025, the 80th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II.

Japanese PM Ishiba at party meeting

TOKYO, Japan, July 28 Kyodo - Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks on July 28, 2025, at the party headquarters in Tokyo, during the Liberal Democratic Party's first meeting of lawmakers for both houses since the July 20 House of Councillors election. (Kyodo)

Japanese PM Ishiba at party meeting

Japanese PM Ishiba at party meeting

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (standing) speaks on July 28, 2025, at the party headquarters in Tokyo, during the Liberal Democratic Party's first meeting of lawmakers for both houses since the July 20 House of Councillors election.