Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Nippon Ishin no Kai representative Hirofumi Yoshimura met to discuss critical policy goals for the current Diet session [1].
The meeting focuses on establishing a legal framework to ensure government continuity during large-scale disasters. By creating a "vice-capital" to substitute for Tokyo's functions, the administration aims to strengthen national security and resilience against catastrophic events [3].
The leaders met at the Prime Minister's Official Residence in a conference room around 5:30 p.m. on June 22 [1, 2]. During the discussions, Takaichi requested partial amendments to the vice-capital bill to ensure its passage [1].
"I request a partial amendment to the vice-capital bill," Takaichi said [1]. She said that the concept of a vice-capital to replace capital functions during a major disaster is vital for national security [3].
Yoshimura said that a decision would be made within a day or two [2].
Beyond the vice-capital initiative, the two leaders confirmed a shared agenda for other legislative priorities. These include the revision of the Imperial House Law, and the reduction of the number of seats in the House of Representatives [1, 3].
The coordination between the ruling administration and the Nippon Ishin no Kai is intended to secure the necessary political support to realize these goals before the current session concludes [1, 2]. Takaichi said more about the meeting during a live broadcast on July 7 [1].
“"I request a partial amendment to the vice-capital bill,"”
The push for a vice-capital law reflects Japan's ongoing strategic effort to mitigate the risks of extreme centralization in Tokyo. By securing cooperation from the Nippon Ishin no Kai on disaster resilience, imperial succession, and legislative downsizing, Prime Minister Takaichi is attempting to build a broad consensus for structural reforms that have historically faced political deadlock.
