Former Japanese lower house speaker Kono dies

Former Japanese lower house speaker Kono dies

File photo taken in Tokyo on July 21, 2009, shows Japanese House of Representatives speaker Yohei Kono announcing the dissolution of the lower house during its plenary session. Kono, former speaker of the House of Representatives, known for announcing the Japanese government's landmark apology over Korean "comfort women" who were forced to work in Japan's wartime military brothels, died on June 8, 2026, aged 89.

FY2026 supplementary budget enacted

FY2026 supplementary budget enacted

Japan's House of Councillors passes a 3.11 trillion yen ($19 billion) supplementary budget for fiscal 2026 during a plenary session in Tokyo on June 5, 2026, marking its enactment as the budget was earlier approved by the House of Representatives.

FY2026 supplementary budget enacted

FY2026 supplementary budget enacted

Japan's House of Councillors passes a 3.11 trillion yen ($19 billion) supplementary budget for fiscal 2026 during a plenary session in Tokyo on June 5, 2026, marking its enactment as the budget was earlier approved by the House of Representatives.

Lower house passes FY2026 supplementary budget plan

Lower house passes FY2026 supplementary budget plan

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (far R) bows after the House of Representatives passed a fiscal 2026 supplementary budget plan during a plenary session in Tokyo on June 4, 2026.

Lower house passes FY2026 supplementary budget plan

Lower house passes FY2026 supplementary budget plan

Japan's House of Representatives passes a fiscal 2026 supplementary budget plan during a plenary session in Tokyo on June 4, 2026.

Japanese PM Takaichi in parliament

Japanese PM Takaichi in parliament

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during a plenary session of the House of Representatives in Tokyo on June 3, 2026.

Japanese PM Takaichi in parliament

Japanese PM Takaichi in parliament

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during a plenary session of the House of Representatives in Tokyo on June 3, 2026.

Revised immigration control law enacted

Revised immigration control law enacted

Japanese Justice Minister Hiroshi Hiraguchi (far R) bows after the House of Councillors approved a bill to revise the immigration control law during a plenary session in Tokyo on May 29, 2026, marking enactment of the revised law to raise the maximum fee for residence status applications by foreigners.

Revised immigration control law enacted

Revised immigration control law enacted

Japan's House of Councillors approves a bill to revise the immigration control law during a plenary session in Tokyo on May 29, 2026, marking enactment of the revised law to raise the maximum fee for residence status applications by foreigners.

Revised immigration control law enacted

Revised immigration control law enacted

Japanese Justice Minister Hiroshi Hiraguchi bows after the House of Councillors approved a bill to revise the immigration control law during a plenary session in Tokyo on May 29, 2026, marking enactment of the revised law to raise the maximum fee for residence status applications by foreigners.

Revised immigration control law enacted

Revised immigration control law enacted

Japan's House of Councillors approves a bill to revise the immigration control law during a plenary session in Tokyo on May 29, 2026, marking enactment of the revised law to raise the maximum fee for residence status applications by foreigners.

Philippine president in Japan's parliament

Philippine president in Japan's parliament

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (2nd from L) arrives at Japan's parliament in Tokyo on May 28, 2026, to make a speech in the plenary chamber of the House of Councillors.

Philippine president in Japan's parliament

Philippine president in Japan's parliament

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C) claps after Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. made a speech in the plenary chamber of the House of Councillors in Tokyo on May 28, 2026.

Philippine president in Japan's parliament

Philippine president in Japan's parliament

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. makes a speech in the plenary chamber of the House of Councillors in Tokyo on May 28, 2026.

Philippine president in Japan's parliament

Philippine president in Japan's parliament

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. makes a speech in the plenary chamber of the House of Councillors in Tokyo on May 28, 2026.

Philippine president in Japan's parliament

Philippine president in Japan's parliament

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. makes a speech in the plenary chamber of the House of Councillors in Tokyo on May 28, 2026.

Philippine president in Japan's parliament

Philippine president in Japan's parliament

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. makes a speech in the plenary chamber of the House of Councillors in Tokyo on May 28, 2026.

Philippine president in Japan's parliament

Philippine president in Japan's parliament

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. makes a speech in the plenary chamber of the House of Councillors in Tokyo on May 28, 2026.

Philippine president in Japan's parliament

Philippine president in Japan's parliament

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. makes a speech in the plenary chamber of the House of Councillors in Tokyo on May 28, 2026.

Philippine president in Japan's parliament

Philippine president in Japan's parliament

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. makes a speech in the plenary chamber of the House of Councillors in Tokyo on May 28, 2026.

Philippine president in Japan's parliament

Philippine president in Japan's parliament

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. makes a speech in the plenary chamber of the House of Councillors in Tokyo on May 28, 2026.

Law to establish National Intelligence Council enacted

Law to establish National Intelligence Council enacted

Japan's House of Councillors approves a bill to establish a new National Intelligence Council during a plenary session in Tokyo on May 27, 2026, marking enactment of the law to create an entity to centralize information gathering in response to overseas threats.

Law to establish National Intelligence council enacted

Law to establish National Intelligence council enacted

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara bows after the House of Councillors approved a bill to establish a new National Intelligence Council during a plenary session in Tokyo on May 27, 2026, marking enactment of the law to create an entity to centralize information gathering in response to overseas threats.

Law to establish National Intelligence Council enacted

Law to establish National Intelligence Council enacted

Japan's House of Councillors approves a bill to establish a new National Intelligence Council during a plenary session in Tokyo on May 27, 2026, marking enactment of the law to create an entity to centralize information gathering in response to overseas threats. ==Kyodo

Japan PM Takaichi in parliament

Japan PM Takaichi in parliament

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during a plenary session of the House of Councillors in Tokyo on May 22, 2026.

Japan PM Takaichi in parliament

Japan PM Takaichi in parliament

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during a plenary session of the House of Councillors in Tokyo on May 22, 2026.

Japan PM Takaichi in parliament

Japan PM Takaichi in parliament

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during a plenary session of the House of Councillors in Tokyo on May 8, 2026.

Japan PM Takaichi in parliament

Japan PM Takaichi in parliament

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during a plenary session of the House of Councillors in Tokyo on May 8, 2026.

Japan PM Takaichi in parliament

Japan PM Takaichi in parliament

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during a plenary session of the House of Councillors in Tokyo on May 8, 2026.

Japan PM Takaichi in parliament

Japan PM Takaichi in parliament

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during a plenary session of the House of Councillors in Tokyo on May 8, 2026.

Japan PM Takaichi in parliament

Japan PM Takaichi in parliament

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during a plenary session of the House of Councillors in Tokyo on May 8, 2026.

Bill to create new Japan intelligence committee passes lower house

Bill to create new Japan intelligence committee passes lower house

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara bows after the House of Representatives passed a bill to establish a national intelligence committee during a plenary session in Tokyo on April 23, 2026.

Bill to create new Japan intelligence committee passes lower house

Bill to create new Japan intelligence committee passes lower house

Japan's House of Representatives passes a bill to establish a national intelligence committee during a plenary session in Tokyo on April 23, 2026.

Bill to create new Japan intelligence committee passes lower house

Bill to create new Japan intelligence committee passes lower house

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (R) smiles after the House of Representatives passed a bill to establish a national intelligence committee during a plenary session in Tokyo on April 23, 2026.

Bill to create new Japan intelligence committee passes lower house

Bill to create new Japan intelligence committee passes lower house

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (R) bows after the House of Representatives passed a bill to establish a national intelligence committee during a plenary session in Tokyo on April 23, 2026.

Bill to create new Japan intelligence committee passes lower house

Bill to create new Japan intelligence committee passes lower house

Japan's House of Representatives passes a bill to establish a national intelligence committee during a plenary session in Tokyo on April 23, 2026.

Bill to create new Japan intelligence committee passes lower house

Bill to create new Japan intelligence committee passes lower house

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (R) smiles after the House of Representatives passed a bill to establish a national intelligence committee during a plenary session in Tokyo on April 23, 2026.

Japan PM Takaichi at parliament

Japan PM Takaichi at parliament

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during a plenary session of the House of Representatives in Tokyo on April 14, 2026.

Japan PM Takaichi at parliament

Japan PM Takaichi at parliament

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during a plenary session of the House of Representatives in Tokyo on April 14, 2026.

Japan PM Takaichi at parliament

Japan PM Takaichi at parliament

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi attends a plenary session of the House of Representatives in Tokyo on April 14, 2026.

Japan PM Takaichi at parliament

Japan PM Takaichi at parliament

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during a plenary session of the House of Representatives in Tokyo on April 14, 2026.

Japan PM Takaichi at parliament

Japan PM Takaichi at parliament

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during a plenary session of the House of Representatives in Tokyo on April 14, 2026.

Japan PM Takaichi at parliament

Japan PM Takaichi at parliament

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during a plenary session of the House of Representatives in Tokyo on April 14, 2026.

Japan PM Takaichi at parliament

Japan PM Takaichi at parliament

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during a plenary session of the House of Representatives in Tokyo on April 14, 2026.

Japanese PM Takaichi in parliament

Japanese PM Takaichi in parliament

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during a plenary session of the House of Representatives in Tokyo on April 9, 2026.

Japanese PM Takaichi in parliament

Japanese PM Takaichi in parliament

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during a plenary session of the House of Representatives in Tokyo on April 9, 2026.

Japanese PM Takaichi in parliament

Japanese PM Takaichi in parliament

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during a plenary session of the House of Representatives in Tokyo on April 9, 2026.

Lower house passes fiscal 2026 state budget

Lower house passes fiscal 2026 state budget

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (front, R) smiles after the House of Representatives passed a record initial state budget for fiscal 2026 during a plenary session in Tokyo on March 13, 2026.

Lower house passes fiscal 2026 state budget

Lower house passes fiscal 2026 state budget

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi smiles after the House of Representatives passed a record initial state budget for fiscal 2026 during a plenary session in Tokyo on March 13, 2026.

Lower house passes fiscal 2026 state budget

Lower house passes fiscal 2026 state budget

The House of Representatives passes a record initial state budget for fiscal 2026 during a plenary session in Tokyo on March 13, 2026.