🇯🇵Week of October 5

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met former Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya in Beijing, the first official talks since Prime Minister Takaichi's remarks concerning a Taiwan contingency. Wang demanded that the 'erroneous remarks' be corrected and conveyed that Prime Minister Takaichi should resolve the Taiwan answer issue. Iwaya also met Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Beijing as part of a delegation from the Japan-China Friendship Parliamentary League.1234567

Iwaya reported after the talks that the two sides agreed on the need to improve Japan-China relations, and said the Japanese government should continue efforts to improve ties. Komeito representative Yuichiro Tamaki called the visit 'meaningful' and 'a first step toward opening a circuit' for improving Japan-China relations. The visit is being watched as a possible opening for improving Japan-China relations.2345

China did not respond to a proposal to 'reconfirm' the 1972 joint statement, according to Jiji Press. Nikkei reported that the hurdles are high for a Japan-China repair along an 'Abe model'. French media reported that both sides recognize the need to improve relations, with economic losses as the background.1234567

Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara declined to comment on the Wang Yi-Iwaya meeting, saying only that 'multi-layered communication is important' and that the government will 'continue to take appropriate measures,' avoiding a direct response to China's demand to correct the Taiwan remarks. Prime Minister Takaichi expressed her intention to build stable Japan-China relations.2345

Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Kazuo Yanagimoto is under scrutiny over allegations that he engaged in vote-buying during two House of Representatives elections, including the suspected provision of shuttle buses to voters. A Yahoo! News report, citing experts, states that the alleged conduct would constitute vote-buying prohibited under the Public Offices Election Act. The allegations follow earlier reports of an intimidation audio recording involving the minister.12

Nippon Ishin no Kai's Seiji Maehara has called for Minister Yanagimoto to resign from his Diet seat. The demand adds to opposition pressure on Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi over her appointment of Yanagimoto, whom she has referred to as her "wise man" or "Yanachan."1345

Prime Minister Takaichi addressed the matter for the first time, commenting on why the minister's office made inquiries to only two municipalities. Opposition parties have criticized Takaichi's appointment of Yanagimoto, questioning her responsibility for the selection and the minister's qualifications, particularly in light of his remarks about budget cuts.34

Commentator Taisuke Sugimura criticized Minister Yanagimoto, saying he is "untrustworthy as a person, even more than as a politician." The remark reflects broader public and media scrutiny of the minister's credibility.6

A US Marine has been arrested in a robbery-murder case in Okinawa, and investigators are examining whether a card carrying military-affiliated status was used to make a payment. The case has drawn protests from Okinawan figures Iha and Takara, who have pressed the government over the killing.12

Okinawa Governor Kōja met Prime Minister Takaichi and called the case extremely malicious, saying it has caused great anxiety among prefectural residents. Kōja demanded tightened discipline and measures to prevent a recurrence.3

The Ryukyu Shimpo editorial board, in a piece arguing the US military has suspended operations after the Marine's arrest, called for joint Japan-US exercises to be halted as well.4

A popular comedian who has disappeared from television sharply criticized some Japanese people over their silence on US military crime in Okinawa, saying scum are calling themselves patriots.5678

Japan Exchange Group announced that 35 stocks, including Nippon McDonald's Holdings, will be added to the next TOPIX index. The exchange also designated 683 stocks as "transitional measures" under the new criteria, meaning they are candidates for exclusion.123

The Tokyo Stock Exchange's reform efforts have led to a decline in easy listings, with zero initial public offerings on the Prime Market during the January-to-September period. This development is described as accelerating the market's metabolism.2

Nissui, a major Japanese food company, said a group company suffered a system failure that stopped the receipt and shipment of products. The subsidiary is a cold-chain logistics company within the Nissui Group. The disruption affected incoming and outgoing goods at the unit.12345

The system failure followed unauthorized access to the Nissui group company, according to reports. The incident left the company unable to receive or ship products. The affected operations are part of Nissui's low-temperature logistics business.3567

The outage was reported by multiple Japanese outlets, including Nikkei, Jiji Press, TV Asahi, 47NEWS, and Yahoo! News. The reports described the impact on product intake and outbound shipments. The story was also carried by d Menu News.1234567