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みんなの未来を選ぶためのチェックリスト

Komeito

Komeito

【質問内容及び回答】

  • Japan's calorie-based food self-sufficiency rate, which was over 70% in the 1960s, has dropped to 37% by 2020. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has set a goal of increasing the calorie-based food self-sufficiency rate to 45% by the fiscal year 2030.
    Do you consider this target sufficient? If not, what’s the target number you propose?
    まる
    補足説明

    [If choosing NO, what’s the target number you propose?]
    (None)
    [Explanation]
    In Japan, which faces the risk of declining food self-sufficiency due to a decrease in production volume and farmland, we believe that it is important to first strongly promote efforts to achieve the current targets, such as increasing demand for domestic agricultural, forestry, and fishery products, expanding production commensurate with such demand, and developing sales channels.

  • Many of the food additives that are currently approved for use in Japan have been banned or restricted in other countries due to their reported risks.
    Do you think the current regulations on food additives are sufficient?
    まる
    補足説明

    Given the public's concerns about food additives, we believe that we should provide information via push communication such as the information resources on safety, etc., and easy-to-understand labeling of additives used in food products. With that said, we believe that Japan also regulates food additives by setting appropriate standards, such as confirming efficacy and health effects and ensuring safety when new food additives are used, or when food additives that are already available for use are intended to be expanded in terms of their uses.

  • In response to the declining demand for rice as staple food, our government has been promoting the conversion of rice paddies into fields for soybeans and crops for animal feed by providing the Direct Payments for Rice Paddy Utilization. The eligibility of these direct payment recipients has become more restricted from the fiscal year 2022.
    Do you think the reform of d the Direct Payments for Rice Paddy Utilization should be waived?
    ばつ
    補足説明

    Regarding the Direct Payments for Rice Paddy Utilization, we will ask the government to consider necessary measures such as infrastructure development to promote block rotation of rice paddies and field crops, while listening to the voices of farmers to address issues that will arise when forming production areas in various regions in the future.

  • Will you lower the higher institutions’ tuition by half as soon as possible, aiming for free higher education?
    -
    補足説明

    △: We will support universities by expanding subsidies for operating expenses for national university corporations, subsidies for facility development expenses for national university corporations, and subsidies for private universities. In addition, we will create the "Total Plan for Supporting Child Raising" to gradually improve financial support and make the following things free of cost: marriage, pregnancy, childbirth, and education from early childhood to higher education.

  • Japan’s public spending on education is at the lowest level among the OECD countries.
    Will you increase the budget for education in order to eliminate teacher shortages and reduce class sizes? If so, please specify by when and how much.
    まる
    補足説明

    [By when and how much?] (None)
    [Explanation] We will strive to secure budgets to promote small class sizes of 35 students in elementary and junior high schools (30 students in elementary and junior high schools in the future), provide additional support staff such as teacher’s assistants, promote reform of teachers' workforce transformation, and develop desirable educational environments and teaching systems for children.

  • The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) promotes "Life’s Safety Education (Inochi no anzenkyoiku)" that teaches about consent and boundaries to protect children from sexual violence. However, this guideline has gatekeeping guideline called Hadome Kitei that restricts schools from teaching about actual sexual intercourse or the process of pregnancy. Due to this restriction, Life’s Safety Education doesn’t provide students with sufficient knowledge and understanding of sexuality.
    Do you plan to lift the gatekeeping restriction and promote comprehensive sex education that teaches children to respect human rights, based on scientific evidence?
    -
    補足説明

    In the health and physical education classes for first-year junior high school students, by learning "development of mental and physical functions and mental health", students learn about changes in the body during puberty, which many students face, so they can understand that the reproductive systems develop and pregnancy becomes possible during puberty. The ministry's curriculum guideline was revised in 1998 as these things were taught through radical sex education (e.g., illustrating sexual intercourse) then. Then the Hadome Kitei was established and it is still in effect to this day to restrict such radical lessons that do not take into account the developmental stages of students. We will promote "Life’s Safety Education" so that it will be implemented in more schools to protect children from sexual crimes and sexual violence.

  • In Japan, children of foreign nationality are excluded from compulsory education and cannot receive education unless they request it. There is concern some of such children may not be enrolled in elementary and junior high school, which are mandatory for Japanese citizens. In addition, Korean schools are excluded from the tuition support system for high school students, even though they meet the requirements for certification.
    Will you change the policy to guarantee equal educational opportunities for children of foreign nationalities, including free tuition for Korean schools?
    -
    補足説明

    △: Children of foreign nationality who wish to attend public compulsory education schools are accepted free of charge, but there is a need to improve the system for Japanese language education at schools and to collaborate with specialists such as Japanese language teachers, etc. In addition to enhancing Japanese language education for the "learning" and "life" of children of foreign nationality, we will promote the securing of learning opportunities for them.

  • Japan’s government expenditures on culture and the arts account for only 0.11% of the national budget, excluding the Covid-19 response budget. This is about one-tenth of that of South Korea and far less than that of Germany, France, and other countries.
    Would you increase public spending on culture within the national budget? If so, please specify how much.
    まる
    補足説明

    [How much?]
    (None)
    [Explanation]
    We believe that we must examine securing financial resources by studying other countries’ policies on cultures and arts. In order not to extinguish the lights of culture, art, and sports, which have been severely affected by the COVID-19, we will continue to enhance support for their resumption and continuation.

  • The importance of public hospitals has been reaffirmed during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, plans are underway to reorganize and consolidate municipal and public hospitals.
    Do you support the consolidation of municipal/public hospitals and their privatization or conversion to local incorporated administrative agencies?
    -
    補足説明

    Even as the population continues to decline and age, it is necessary to build a system that will allow people to receive medical care with peace of mind well into the future. To this end, it is necessary to functionalize medical institutions and strengthen cooperation among medical institutions, taking into account changes in the population structure and other factors. And the experience of the COVID-19 has further increased the importance of such efforts. However, in promoting such efforts, we should not automatically seek to reduce or consolidate hospital beds but should proceed according to the actual conditions of each region, while fully taking into consideration the opinions of local governments and medical institutions.

  • The government has raised the income of caregivers and childcare workers by about 3%, which is an average of 9,000 yen per month, in 2022. On the other hand, the average salary of caregivers and childcare workers is still said to be about 80,000 to 90,000 yen lower than the average of all industries.
    Do you intend to improve compensation for caregivers and childcare workers, including a further salary increase?
    まる
    補足説明

    Based on the economic measures and alike approved by the Cabinet last November, measures to raise income by about 3% (9,000 yen/month) for childcare workers, kindergarten teachers, caregivers, and welfare workers have been in effect since February of this year, on the assumption that efforts will be made to continue the effects of the wage increase. Through these measures, we will promote sustained wage increases and compensation improvements for essential workers in nursing care, childcare, and other fields.

  • Currently, Japan's standards for the placement ratio of childcare workers are 1 adult for every 3 children aged 0, 1 adult for every 6 children aged 1 to 2, 1 adult for every 20 children aged 3, and 1 adult for every 30 children aged 4 to 5.
    Will you improve these standards of childcare worker placement ratio? If so, please specify how much?
    まる
    補足説明

    [The ratio]
    To improve the quality of early childhood education and care, we will improve compensation for kindergarten teachers and childcare workers, support renting accommodation and other efforts to secure human resources, and review staffing standards. The staffing ratio for 3-year-olds should be 15:1, for 1-year-olds 5:1, and for 4- and 5-year-olds 25:1.
    [Explanation]
    Under the new support system for children and child-rearing, we were able to utilize consumption tax revenue to raise the official price of the nursery-cares that improve the ratio of childcare-worker placement from 20:1 to 15:1 for 3-year-old children. In addition, we should and will continue to promote the securing of necessary financial resources to raise the ratio of nursery teachers for 1-year-old children from 6:1 to 5:1, and for 4- and 5-year-old children from 30:1 to 25:1.

  • Will you make emergency contraception available to purchase under the pharmacist's guidance without prescriptions?
    まる
    補足説明

    To protect women from the risk of unintended pregnancy, we should enhance education on emergency contraceptives, and revise the system so that those seeking emergency contraceptives can purchase them at pharmacies without a prescription from a pharmacist.

  • The Maternal Protection Act stipulates that consent from the spouse must be obtained when undergoing an abortion, except in cases of pregnancy resulting from assault or threat.
    Would you repeal the "spousal consent requirement" as stated in Article 14 of the Maternal Protection Act?
    -
    補足説明

    Spousal consent for abortion is not intended to require consent from the perpetrator of forced sexual intercourse. In addition, a pregnant woman who cannot obtain consent for an abortion from her spouse because her marriage is practically broken due to domestic violence, etc., can have an abortion with her consent. We recognize that there are various opinions among the public regarding abortion, including opinions from the viewpoint of a woman's self-determination and opinions from the viewpoint of respecting the life of the fetus. We believe that it is important to have a further discussion among all levels of the public on the proper provisions of the Maternity Protection Law.

  • There is concern that if the global temperature rises 1.5°C above, climate disasters, water shortages, and food problems will become even more serious and critical. However, if the current situation remains unchanged, the global temperature is expected to reach 2.7°C above by 2100, and efforts are required from each country to achieve the "Paris Agreement 1.5°C goal" to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C. The Japanese government's greenhouse gas emission reduction target is a "46-50% reduction compared to 2013 levels by 2030," but this is considered to be an inadequate level that does not align with the 1.5°C goal.
    Will you raise the target level of greenhouse gas emission reduction to 62% which aligns with the Paris Agreement 1.5°C limit?
    ばつ
    補足説明

    Based on the comments from IPCC and the COP26 Pact, we believe that the 1.5°C target of the Paris Agreement requires the achievement of 2050 carbon neutrality. And the government's 46-50% reduction target by 2030 aligns with that. We will steadily implement measures in various areas of our country to reach the 2030 target. At the same time, to achieve the 1.5°C-target, it is necessary not only for Japan but also for countries around the world to achieve their reduction targets, and to this end, we will support the efforts of each country by making use of our technologies.

  • At the COP26 meeting held in Glasgow last year, all participating countries agreed to reduce coal-fired power generation, which is the largest source of CO2 emissions. In order to achieve the "Paris Agreement 1.5°C limit", developed countries must reduce coal-fired power generation to zero by 2030, but the Japanese government has set the target number of coal-fired power generation to 19% by 2030.
    Will you reduce domestic coal power to zero by 2030?
    -
    補足説明

    △: Komeito will work to gradually reduce inefficient coal-fired power generation those CO2 emissions are high toward 2030, and will also promote support for companies that have such power generation facilities to switch to gas power generation, etc. We Komeito will strive to reduce coal-fired power generation, which emits large amounts of CO2, through efforts to make renewable energy the main source of power and through thorough energy conservation efforts by the public and private sectors. In addition, as a result of Komeito's request to the government to suspend exports of coal-fired power generation in April 2021, the government will no longer provide support for new exports of the coal power that does not take any emission reduction measures. We will continue to call on the government to reduce coal-fired power generation overseas. To achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 (that aligns with the 1.5°C-target), we expect to see a shift to eco-friendly and green jobs, especially in highly energy-consuming industries, and the creation of new jobs. However, we need to ensure socially vulnerable groups won't lose their jobs due to the lack of opportunities to utilize their current skills or be left behind due to the lack of skills. To this end, we will promote human resource development in "green" domains by adding education courses on "green" domains to the scope of the education and training benefits system and promote job stability and employment opportunities. In addition, we will promote the establishment of a system that grants reward points to citizens when they cooperate in purchasing eco-friendly products with low CO2 emissions, saving electricity, etc., to support their eco-friendly actions.

  • As each prefecture’s minimum wage varies, there is a gap of 221 YEN between the highest and the lowest minimum wages. Estimates also suggest that about 1,500 yen per hour is actually needed as a living wage.
    Will you raise the minimum hourly wage to 1,500 yen nationwide?
    -
    補足説明

    If minimum wages are raised abruptly, business owners who cannot bear the sudden increase in costs will be forced to take actions such as salary cuts and lay-offs, which may lead to bankruptcies and an increase in unemployment. For example, in South Korea, as a result of the 16%
    wage increase in January 2018, many small and medium-sized businesses were forced out of business, employment decreased, those who were originally intended to be saved by the increased minimum wage lost their jobs, and companies are also moving out of the country. On the other hand, in the United Kingdom, where the minimum wage has been gradually raised, there has been no negative impact on employment. We Komeito aim to steadily raise the minimum wage by 3% or more annually, and raise the national weighted average wage to over 1,000 yen in the early 2020s, and to over 1,000 yen in more than half of the prefectures in the mid-2020s, in order to correct the disparity between regions.

  • The introduction of the selective dual surname system for married couples is being discussed in order to eliminate unwanted surname changes and unwilling De Facto marriages.
    Will you introduce the option of selective dual surnames for married couples, which would allow both couples to maintain their surnames in the family register and still be married? If so, when do you aim to introduce the change?
    まる
    補足説明

    We will introduce a "selective dual surname system" for married couples as soon as possible, based on broad consensus building, so that couples who wish to do so can marry without having to change their respective surnames.

  • The Act on Promotion of Gender Equality in the Political Field requires each party to make efforts to have equal numbers of candidates of men and women, but actual efforts are left solely to the discretion of each party.
    Will you make it mandatory for each party to disclose the target ratio of women in its candidate pool?
    まる
    補足説明

    Since each political party's current ratio of the female candidates and each party's challenges in raising the number of female candidates and female Diet members are different, we believe each party needs different approaches. We believe that it would be effective to require each political party to announce its target from the perspective of encouraging voluntary efforts. However, we must pay extra attention to ensure the female candidates are not put forward on the assumption that they will fail in the election based on the prospects of winning or losing, or that they are not put forward unreasonably even though they are not provided the resources that help them engage in their work as a Diet member. We are also working as a party to increase the number of female candidates by establishing a detailed consultation system with the current and former Diet members, as well as a parental leave system for the party responsibilities. In addition to the announcement of such numerical targets, we believe it is necessary to further improve the environment in which women can easily run for office and engage in parliamentary activities, including measures to support a better balance between men and women, to promote gender equality in housework and child-rearing.

  • The amount of Livelihood Assistance, which is used for the living cost such as clothes or utility bills out of Livelihood protection benefits, has been gradually reduced since 2013.
    Will you bring this back up to the previous amount that was set before 2013?
    -
    補足説明

    The fiscal year 2013 is the period for the five-year review of Livelihood Assistance standards, etc. And comparison was made between the Livelihood Assistance, which is equivalent to daily living expenses, and the consumption expenditures of low-income households in general. The result of the examination showed that the living standard of elderly households receiving Livelihood Protection benefits was lower than that of low-income households, while the households with a large number of children receiving Livelihood Protect benefits tended tend to be higher than the low-income households with a large number of children. The Livelihood Assistance standards were then revised to eliminate this "inversion phenomenon" and to reflect the decline in prices, which had previously remained the same. At that time, Komeito insisted that the review of Livelihood protection benefits should not be based on the reduction in Livelihood protection benefits, we asked to take thorough measures to prevent unjustified receipts and
    further support the self-reliance and employment of those in need. In December of the same year, the "Law to Assist Chronically Poverty-stricken People to Live Independent Lives" was enacted as a "second safety net" for the people in need, which includes consultations for self-reliance, "Housing Security Benefits," support for employment preparation, household budget consultations, and learning support for children. The special measure on the Housing Security Benefits for those who are at risk of losing their housing due to the COVID-19 pandemic was taken, and it is supporting the lives of many people.

  • Will you enact an "LGBT Equality Law" that explicitly prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity?
    まる
    補足説明

    Based on the recognition that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity is unacceptable, we are working on the passage of the Law for the Promotion of Understanding of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity.

  • Will you legislate same-sex marriage?
    まる
    補足説明

    We will further discuss same-sex marriage among the public, conduct concrete surveys on the actual situation, and work on the necessary legislation.

  • The Gender Identity Disorder Special Cases Act allows transgender individuals to change their sex legally. However, WHO's ICD-11, released in 2019, no longer lists "gender identity disorder" and introduces a new term called "Gender Incongruence" in the category of conditions related to sexual health. In addition, the Gender Identity Disorder Special Cases Act stipulates that one does not have a minor child, is not married, and will undergo sex-reassignment surgery. This sets extremely high barriers and some of the requirements are considered human rights violations internationally.
    Will you amend the Gender Identity Disorder Special Cases Act to ease the requirements?
    まる
    補足説明

    We should remove the so-called "childless requirement," which stipulates the absence of a minor child, and leave the decisions up to family courts based on individual circumstances. In addition, the so-called "reproductive incapacity requirement/appearance requirement" to undergo gender reassignment surgery is a very heavy physical and financial burden, so we believe we should review them aiming to remove the requirement. We will discuss the so-called “unmarried requirement”, aiming for a less strict requirement in the context of discussing same-sex marriages.

  • Will you reduce or abolish the consumption tax?
    ばつ
    補足説明

    The consumption tax is used to provide a stable source of revenue for social security because it is less susceptible to changes in the economy and population structure, and thus provides a stable source of tax revenue. Even if the consumption tax reduction was to be implemented, we cannot discuss the matter without a reliable alternative source of revenue. And if the tax cut was to be implemented, it would require legal reform and would take a certain amount of time to be in effect, so it would not be a timely measure. In addition, it is clear that consumption will be sluggish as people will be reluctant to buy immediately after the bill is submitted and until the tax rate is lowered. In addition, when the tax rate is restored to its original level, there will be a rush demand and a reactionary decline, which will have a very large impact on the economy and impose a large administrative burden on businesses, such as the replacement of price tags. Therefore, we believe that lowering the consumption tax rate is not a good economic measure.

  • There is concern that the implementation of the Invoice System will increase the financial and administrative burden on many businesses, including freelancers and small and medium-sized businesses, and that it will prevent young talent from emerging.
    Will you terminate or abolish the implementation of the Invoice System?
    ばつ
    補足説明

    The Japanese Invoice system (transactions using invoices that clearly indicate the amount of consumption tax for each tax rate) enables sellers to accurately inform buyers of applicable tax rates and consumption tax amounts, and it corrects unfair price-cutting practices by buyers, such as beating down the prices and refusing the passed-on prices. We believe that this system is necessary to ensure appropriate transactions and a fair tax burden. To reduce the administrative burden, we will promote the development of a digitally-enabled transaction and tax payment environment, including electronic invoicing, and encourage significant efficiency improvements in back-office operations.

  • The effective corporate tax rate has been reduced every year since 1984. Especially since 2015, expecting to see an increase in salaries and business investment, the effective corporate tax rate was further decreased, but such redistribution did not happen. Some argue that the effective corporate tax rate should be raised.
    What percentage do you think is appropriate for the effective corporate tax rate?
    -
    補足説明

    [Answer]
    Future Discussions
    [Explanation]
    In order to promote wage increases among corporations, we will mobilize all possible policies, including various subsidies, tax measures such as the "tax system to promote wage increases" which was drastically expanded in this year's tax reform, measures on the pass-on prices for subcontractors, and improve the effectiveness of the Partnership Building Declaration. We would like to discuss the ideal corporate effective tax rate while monitoring the effects of these policies and trends in other countries.

  • Do you think that the government should investigate and disclose the detailed use of the "Covid-19 Contingency funds" of over 11 trillion yen, the final use of which has not been precisely identified?
    まる
    補足説明

    In reality, it is difficult to separate out and clarify the use of the COVID-19 reserve funds alone, since most of the funds were added to the existing budget and are managed together. However, the government should follow up on the status of each project and disclose information to the public in order to ascertain whether the Corona measures have been properly implemented to support households, businesses, and other entities.

  • The government guideline says that it will encourage people to obtain their “Maina Insurance Card”, which integrates the Individual Number (My Number) card and the health insurance card, and in the future aims to abolish the current health insurance card. There are various concerns such as leakage of personally identifiable information and confusion in the medical field.
    Do you support promoting the Maina Insurance Card and the abolition of the current health insurance card in tandem?
    -
    補足説明

    We Komeito have been working to promote the My Number (Individual Number) Card, which will be the foundation of the digital society, with the implementation of the "new Maina reward point project" as one of the priority policies of last year's lower house election. And now that the project is introduced, 7500-yen-worth points will be awarded to those who register their Individual Number cards to use as their health insurance cards. In addition, medical institutions and pharmacies can check past prescription histories and results of special health checkups with the patient's consent when the patient receives a medical examination with the "Maina Insurance Card," which leads to improvements in the quality of medical care, etc. We will explain these benefits in an easy-to-understand manner and promote digitization so that patients, medical institutions, and pharmacies can all make effective use of medical information for safe, secure, and better medical care. However, in order to promote such efforts, we believe it is important to take all possible measures to prevent the leakage of personal information and confusion in the medical field.

  • Do you think that the government has sufficiently provided apology and compensation to the victims of forced sterilization under the former eugenic law to remedy their human rights violation?
    -
    補足説明

    Forced sterilization based on the former Eugenic Protection Law is a serious violation of human rights. And because the number of victims is aging and many of them may not be able to bring a lawsuit, we have enacted legislation to provide a lump-sum payment to those who were forced to undergo sterilization based on the former Eugenic Protection Law in order to provide support more quickly and more widely. Taking into the account that the Tokyo High Court and Osaka High Court decisions showed that the amount of the lump-sum payment exceeds the amount of the grant and that the fact that the Lump-Sum Compensation Act was enacted unanimously by the Diet, we should consult and discuss with the government and the Diet on the future measures to be taken, including the level of lump-sum payments under the Act.

  • In recent years, discrimination agitation groups and online hate speech (discrimination incitement) have become more serious problems, and the Anti-Hate Speech Act was passed in 2016. However, discriminatory demonstrations and propaganda activities by xenophobic groups continue to this day, and discrimination against foreign residents and discrimination in employment have not disappeared.
    Do you agree with the swift enactment of the "Basic Law for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination" with penalties?
    -
    補足説明

    △: We Komeito contributed to the enactment of the Hate Speech Elimination Law through consensus-building between the ruling and opposition parties, amidst various issues such as concerns for freedom of expression. As a result, the public is becoming increasingly aware that "hate speech will not be tolerated. However, there is still no end to unjust and discriminatory speech and actions on the basis of race, ethnicity, and other factors. The recent Supreme Court decision on hate speech, the first of its kind in Japan, held that "freedom of expression is not guaranteed without limitation, but may be limited to reasonable, necessary, and unavoidable limits by public welfare," and that taking certain measures to deter hate speech is not a violation of the Constitution. As the Supreme Court has recognized, hate speech is not tolerated even in light of the freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution. We will continue to consider the prohibition of discrimination with penalties, such as the Basic Law on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, and further promote the elimination of various forms of discrimination.

  • In Japan’s Control Immigration Centers, foreign nationals, whose residency permit has been revoked but who have family in Japan or who cannot return home due to war or civil unrest in their country of nationality, are detained, sometimes for long periods of time, according to unclear criteria. Serious incidents and accidents are constantly occurring at these facilities, including deaths of detainees left without proper medical care.
    Will you stop Immigration Control Centers’ long-term/indefinite detention that is usually followed by deportation, and under certain conditions, will you issue a residency permit to the foreign citizens who stay in Japan due to the circumstances that prohibit them from returning to their home country?
    -
    補足説明

    △: As you pointed out, prolonged detention in immigration detention facilities is an urgent issue. In order to resolve this issue, we will consider a system that allows detainees to live outside of the detention facilities, and we will promote the reinforcement of the medical system at the facilities. In addition, we will continue to improve the system and its operation so that those who should be allowed to stay in Japan will be appropriately protected and those who have committed serious crimes in Japan will be dealt with strictly. For foreign nationals who are staying in Japan on an irregular basis, we believe that special permission for residence should continue to be granted in cases where humanitarian accommodations are required.

  • The current Technical Intern Training Program for foreign nationals is barely protecting basic human rights. 70% of the participating workplaces violate the Labor Standard Law, and so many cases of prohibiting pregnancy or marriage are reported.
    Will you abolish the Technical Intern Program for Foreign Nationals?
    -
    補足説明

    △: The Technical Intern Training Program for foreign nationals is a program designed to transfer Japanese skills, technology, and knowledge to developing countries and other countries, and to cooperate in "human resource development" that will play a role in the economic development of those countries. However, we are aware that there are cases where foreign interns who have come to Japan through this program have been subjected to poor working conditions. In order to improve such environments, the "Organization for Technical Intern Training" was newly established in 2017, and companies that accept interns are required to notify the Organization and to treat them and Japanese nationals equally. We will continue to carefully discuss the issue to provide fine treatment for foreign interns, aiming for an inclusive society in which no one is left behind.

  • The age of consent is the minimum age at which a person is considered capable of consenting to sexual intercourse. The age of consent in Japan has never been revised since it was established in the Penal Code during the Meiji era, and is lower compared to other countries.
    Will you raise the age of consent from 13 years old to 16 years old?
    -
    補足説明

    △: Aiming for the eradication of sexual crimes and sexual violence, we will promote efforts to raise the age of consent for sexual intercourse. With regard to the age of consent, we will continue to carefully discuss the issue with each party and each faction, and make every effort to form a broad consensus.

  • Under the current Penal Code, forced intercourse cannot be considered a crime unless assault, intimidation, or the victim’s inability to resist is proven, but in many cases, it is difficult to prove that the victim "desperately resisted," so the damage is not recognized as damage.
    Will you revise the current Penal Code by eliminating the requirements of assault, intimidation, and inability to resist from Articles 177 and 178 of the Penal Code, and make non-consensual sexual intercourses, including intercourse with a person who engages involuntarily and intercourse that takes advantage of the situation where the victim has difficulty in forming, expressing, o pursuing their consent or non-consent, punishable?
    -
    補足説明

    △: Sexual crimes and sexual violence are absolutely unacceptable, as they trample on the human rights of victims and have serious long-term physical and mental effects on them. We Komeito will work to revise the Penal Code from the perspective of victims, regarding the revision of requirements for assault, threats, unconscious state, and inability to resist.

  • The statute of limitations for the crime of forcible sexual intercourse is 10 years and for the crime of forcible indecency 7 years. In many cases, the statute of limitation expires before the victims become aware that they have been victimized, resulting in unrecognized cases.
    Will you abolish the statute of limitations for crimes of forcible sexual intercourse and forcible indecency?
    -
    補足説明

    △: Victims of forced sexual intercourse often suffer serious physical and mental effects and are unable to immediately seek advice or report the crime. We Komeito will work to revise the Penal Code from the perspective of victims regarding how the statute of limitations system for prosecution in sexual crimes and sexual violence should be.

  • Do you believe that there is an urgent issue that requires a constitutional amendment, not a legal amendment? If so, please specify what they are.
    -
    補足説明

    △: As for constitutional issues, various issues are expected to be addressed, such as maintaining the functions of the Diet in a state of emergency, the constitutional guarantee of human rights and democracy in the advancement of the digital society, and the clear stipulation of the Self-Defense Forces. We Komeito will continue to carefully discuss and examine these issues.

  • With Japan's defense expenditures at a record high for eight consecutive years, there is a debate about further doubling the defense budget. At the same time, however, there is no clear funding source, and there is concern that taxes will be raised to pay and social security spending will be cut for the increased defense spending.
    Will you continue increasing defense spending?
    ばつ
    補足説明

    It is necessary to establish a truly budget after examining what kind of security policy and equipment for defense are needed in reality to protect the lives of the people in the increasingly severe security environment, and how the roles of the Japan-U.S. alliance should be divided, not based on the budget amount. On the other hand, we should examine those that entail a burden in the future budgeting process while obtaining the understanding of the public.

  • For the first time since the end of World War II, the government is mulling the "enemy base attack capability," which would allow Japan to broadly attack missile bases and other military bases in the territory of other countries. This capability would enable Japan to attack other countries without a direct attack on Japan.
    Do you agree with the possession of the "enemy base attack capability" as currently being discussed?
    ばつ
    補足説明

    It is not clear to us what "enemy base attack capability" means, but if Japan were to be attacked by another country, etc., we would make specific decisions on an individual basis under the Peace and Security Legislation and respond within the scope permitted under the Constitution. We believe it is necessary to strengthen defense capabilities to respond to increasingly sophisticated missile launching capabilities and to protect the lives of citizens. What kind of equipment and systems are needed in line with reality? It is necessary to deepen discussions and seek public understanding of what defense capabilities are appropriate for Japan and how to share roles with the Japan-U.S. alliance. We will have a thorough discussion during the review of the three documents toward the end of the year, including the National Defense Program Outline.

  • Do you aim to join the Treaty on the prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in the future?
    まる
    補足説明

    The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons is highly regarded as "a landmark international legal norm that banned nuclear weapons as illegal for the first time. The treaty is also the fruit of the enthusiasm of the Hibakusha people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan's only war-bombed nations, who have long passed on the "reality of the atomic bombings" to the next generation. Kōmeitō is committed to creating an environment for ratification of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, and in May submitted an urgent proposal to the Prime Minister calling for strong efforts to stop the use of nuclear weapons once and for all, and to maintain a "record of non-use of nuclear weapons. The G7 meeting next year, which was called for in that proposal, will be held in the A-bombed city of Hiroshima. I hope that the G7, which will bring together the nuclear powers of the U.S., the U.K., and France, will be an opportunity to deepen discussions toward a "world without nuclear weapons". A meeting of the state parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons is scheduled to be held in August, and we have been urging the government to participate in the meeting as an observer.
    Through these efforts, with the cooperation of both nuclear-weapon states and non-nuclear-weapon states, we will play a "true bridge-building" role and accumulate various realistic and practical initiatives toward the realization of a "world without nuclear weapons".

  • In response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, there has been a discussion that Japan should also start nuclear sharing. Do you agree that Japan should start nuclear sharing?
    ばつ
    補足説明

    Nuclear sharing would mean reviewing the three non-nuclear principles. Sharing nuclear weapons between Japan and the U.S. would violate the three non-nuclear principles, which are national policy, and would bring distrust to Japan's long-trusted efforts toward nuclear abolition and non-proliferation to date, thereby damaging international trust in the country. It is clear that the risk of nuclear use and proliferation will also increase, and we are firmly opposed to nuclear sharing. We will continue to uphold the three non-nuclear principles, which have great significance in demonstrating to the international community the position of Japan as the only atomic-bombed country, in pursuit of nuclear abolition, and will promote efforts to lead the construction of a "world without nuclear weapons.

  • Regarding the relief for those who were exposed to the "black rain" containing radioactive materials that fell immediately after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, the government recognized those who were outside the relief area as Hibakusha and made them eligible for the issuance of the Hibakusha Health Certificate.
    Will those who were exposed to the "black rain" in Nagasaki be included in the Hibakusha Health Handbook?
    -
    補足説明

    With regard to Nagasaki, we are aware that the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, Nagasaki Prefecture, and Nagasaki City are currently organizing past court documents and identifying issues in order to sort out the consistency with past court cases and the existence of objective resources showing the existence of areas where black rain fell. We believe that a wider range of relief should be provided, fully taking into consideration the pain of the atomic-bomb survivors.

  • Will you commit to the safe decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, shut down all the nuclear power plants by 2030, and decommission them all one by one?
    -
    補足説明

    △: Some of the nuclear power plants to be restarted have been in operation for more than 40 years, which is assumed to be the general service life of nuclear power plants. However, restarting nuclear power plants that have been in operation for more than 40 years requires the world's highest regulatory standards and further safety assurance, including measures to deal with aging deterioration. Therefore, there are many hurdles to overcome before restarting the reactors, and 24 reactors have actually been decommissioned so far. According to data from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), the number of power plants is expected to gradually decrease in the 2040s and beyond, even assuming that 36 nuclear power plants, excluding those that have been decided to be decommissioned, will operate for 60 years. With reference to these prospects, We Komeito will not allow the construction of additional nuclear power plants and will work toward a society that does not depend on nuclear power in the future, while steadily reducing dependence on nuclear power through the promotion of thorough energy conservation, the maximum utilization of renewable energy, and efforts to decarbonize thermal power generation. In addition, we will steadily promote measures for the decommissioning of TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, the treated water, etc. In particular, we will take measures such as the dissemination of knowledge on safety and other issues, thorough explanations and accurate information dissemination both domestically and internationally to gain the reassurance and understanding of the fishing industry and the public. In addition, we will develop technologies to accelerate the removal of fuel debris and investigate the inside of the reactor while safely and steadily implementing measures for treated water, etc.
    We will also take all possible measures to prevent reputational damages to the treated water. In addition, we will promote subsidies for research and development that is technically challenging, and train human resources who will be responsible for decommissioning.

  • Do you agree with releasing contaminated water generated from Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear into the ocean?
    -
    補足説明

    The government's plan is not to discharge contaminated water generated at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant directly into the ocean, but to purify it using ALPS and then dilute it with seawater to dilute the tritium concentration to about one-fortieth of the national standard and one-seventh of WHO's drinking water standard. The government claims that there is almost no possibility of affecting the environment or human health. Furthermore, the government plans to ensure monitoring and transparency by third parties such as international organizations, including cooperation with the IAEA, on the discharge of treated water into the ocean. The government should take the initiative and full responsibility for the discharge of treated wastewater into the ocean and should work in good faith to gain the understanding of the people in the fishery and the public, and take all possible measures to ensure safety. We also believe that the government should work on support measures to prevent reputational damages.

  • Under the current Act on Support for Reconstructing Livelihoods of Disaster Victims, 3 million yen will be provided at maximum, depending on the extent of damage and how the house is reconstructed. However, it has been pointed out that this amount is insufficient to rebuild livelihoods if one loses their house and their job.
    Do you think that the current maximum amount of 3 million yen for Support Grants for Reconstructing Livelihoods of Disaster Victims is sufficient? If this is not sufficient, please specify the appropriate amount?
    -
    補足説明

    We Komeito led the enactment of the Act on Support for Reconstructing Livelihoods of Disaster Victims after the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake and has consistently worked to expand the support system for rebuilding the lives of disaster victims, including the enactment of a revised law that provides up to 3-million-yen aid depending on the extent of damage and the method of rebuilding the houses. Two years ago, a new amendment to the law was passed to add a new category of households affected by medium-scale partial destruction and to provide support grants of up to 1 million yen. Since there are a variety of possible disaster damages, it is important to provide detailed support with an eye to the overall balance of the situation. We will continue our efforts to further enhance support for disaster victims to make a disaster-resistant nation that protects the lives and livelihoods of its citizens.

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