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みんなの未来を選ぶためのチェックリスト

Nippon Ishin (the Japan Innovation Party)

Nippon Ishin (the Japan Innovation Party)

【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?
    ばつ
    補足説明

    [If choosing NO, what’s the target number you propose?]
    Target 50%.
    [Explanation]
    Food self-sufficiency is an important issue in food security. We should first aim for 50%.

  • 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?
    ばつ
    補足説明

    Based on scientific evidence that is updated on a daily basis, regulated items need to be constantly reviewed.

  • 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?
    まる
    補足説明

    The review of Direct Payments for Rice Paddy Utilization itself will not lead to an increase in food self-sufficiency. Rather than the need to withdraw the subsidy, we should discuss policies to increase food self-sufficiency.

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

    Higher education should be free of charge. We will also promote free childbirth expenses. And we will reduce the burden on households raising children, and break the trend of declining birth rates. We do not agree with the half-hearted policy of lowering the tuition to half.

  • 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

    In order to be on par with OECD countries (4.9% of GDP), we should increase by 22% from the current level (4.0% of GDP).

  • 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?
    まる
    補足説明

    While we must further consider whether the elimination the "the gatekeeping" is appropriate, sex education needs to be more in-depth than it is now.

  • 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?
    まる
    補足説明

    We agree with the idea of foreign children receiving education. However, the application of free education to foreign schools is a matter for prefectural governments to decide.

  • 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.
    ばつ
    補足説明

    We will review cultural and artistic policies, which tend to be limited to the investment in facilities and the provision of subsidies, and promote the introduction of the concession system for cultural facilities and the Arts Council, as well as deregulation of various laws and regulations, in order to provide artists and others the opportunities to work and present their works independently in many aspects.

  • 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?
    まる
    補足説明

    It is necessary to restructure and consolidate municipal and public hospitals to accommodate the aging population.

  • 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

    We will make fundamental improvements in the compensation of childcare workers, including correction of the disparity between public and private sectors, equal pay for equal work between regular and non-regular employees, and substantial improvement in the compensation of childcare workers in private day-care centers and unlicensed childcare facilities.

  • 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?
    ばつ
    補足説明

    We will thoroughly decentralize the placement standards, etc. by reforming the nationwide uniform standards, which lack flexibility. And we will allow the local governments to determine in principle by ordinance.

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

    We should also deregulate the online medical treatment and prescription of after-pills together.

  • 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?
    まる
    補足説明

    While it is debatable whether we should simply eliminate the requirement, we agree with aiming for a system that honors the will of the affected woman while taking all cases, including unexpected pregnancy, into consideration.

  • 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

    To achieve the 46% reduction target for 2030, we will attract new investment toward and achieve the technological innovation and job creation necessary.

  • 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?
    ばつ
    補足説明

    Although reduction of coal-fired power generation is necessary to reduce CO2 emissions, it is not appropriate to reduce coal-fired power generation to zero when considering a stable energy supply.

  • 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?
    ばつ
    補足説明

    It is questionable to make a uniform wage rate nationwide, etc., since the situation around wages differs from region to region.

  • 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

    While maintaining the family register system and the principle of the single surname per a family register, we aim to establish a system that allows people to continue to use their maiden name after marriage and to engage in socioeconomic activities using their maiden name, for example by establishing a system that gives general legal effect to the use of maiden names.

  • 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?
    ばつ
    補足説明

    Recognizing that it is necessary to create an environment where women can easily run for office, we decided to provide babysitter subsidies as a measure to support the child-rearing generation.

  • 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?
    ばつ
    補足説明

    In order to build a "safety net for challenges," we should give serious consideration to optimizing and integrating redistribution based on a basic income or tax credits with benefits, and promote the reform of the entire social security system, including pensions.

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

    We are in favor of creating some kind of law. However, we should keep in our mind the process of formulating the "Law for the Promotion of LGBT Understanding" in last year's Diet through legislation by Diet members.

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

    We will recognize same-sex marriage and promote measures to ensure that LGBTQ and other sexual minorities will not be unfairly discriminated against.

  • 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?
    ばつ
    補足説明

    We cannot be assertive that we will be able to amend the current law and ease the requirement. However, we are currently discussing the matter among the party members in order to be more attentive to the difficulties faced by transgender people.

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

    We will lower the reduced consumption tax rate from the current 8% to 3% in stages, or to 0% depending on the situation, to cope with the ongoing price hike. Thereafter, we will reduce the consumption tax itself to 5% for about two years to break the long-term stagnation of the Japanese economy and the COVID-19 pandemic. (We have already submitted the bill). After the period of these special measures against price hikes and the COVID-19 pandemic are completed, we will reduce the consumption tax to 8% and abolish the reduced tax rate system, and consider future local taxation and tax system reform in combination.

  • 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

    We must introduce the Japanese invoice system even for sole proprietors and small and medium-sized businesses. However, since the COVID-19 pandemic occurred, we should consider postponing the introduction of the invoice system and support.

  • 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

    As a short-term economic measure, we should set the corporate tax rate for small and medium-sized businesses at 15%, the lowest international rate, regardless of the amount of income.

  • 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

    The approval of the 11-trillion-yen reserve fund was an exception to provide the infectious disease countermeasures. We must ensure to investigate the use of the funds.

  • 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?
    まる
    補足説明

    We should revise the My Number (Individual Number) law to expand the use of the funds and promote "full utilization" of the Individual Number system. In conjunction with the expansion of the My Number linkage, we should establish a "Revenue Agency" by integrating the National Tax Agency and the social insurance premium collection department to collect taxes and social insurance premiums in an integrated manner, thereby improving operational efficiency and correcting unfairness.

  • 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?
    ばつ
    補足説明

    There are opinions from victims' organizations and the leaders of some local governments calling for the expansion of support to spouses and forced sterilization victims, etc., who are not eligible for lump-sum payments, etc. under the current system. However, there are many issues to be addressed, such as the scope of support coverage and verification methods. We will carefully consider how support should be further provided, taking into account court decisions on the government’s compensation. For reference, we as a party support the High Court's decision not to apply the period of exclusion.

  • 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?
    ばつ
    補足説明

    We believe that our Constitution and other existing domestic laws are sufficient to fulfill the obligations under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination to which Japan is a party. If we need to enact additional domestic law in the future, we will consider it carefully.

  • 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?
    まる
    補足説明

    We should judge whether to grant or deny special permissions for residence comprehensively based on the individual cases and circumstances of the foreign national concerned while respecting international human rights standards.

  • 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?
    ばつ
    補足説明

    We will investigate the actual situation of the foreign technical internship system and promote appropriate acceptance of foreign workers by drastically improving the situation where foreign workers have been used as a "means of adjusting labor supply and demand”.

  • 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?
    ばつ
    補足説明

    We should raise the age of consent for sexual intercourse, but a national consensus is needed on whether or not to raise the age to 16.

  • 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?
    ばつ
    補足説明

    Discussion is needed on this issue, and a national consensus is needed for legislation.

  • 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?
    ばつ
    補足説明

    Statutes of limitations are set because as time goes by, evidence and witnesses become fewer and harder to prove the crime. We cannot say that eliminating the statute of limitations is necessarily effective; discussion is needed.

  • 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.
    まる
    補足説明

    The Self-Defense Forces should be clearly defined in the Constitution. We should establish a state-of-emergency clause so that we can react in the event of an emergency, based on the constitutional system.

  • 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?
    まる
    補足説明

    We should set the defense expenditures in accordance with the military power situation of neighboring countries, which is not something we can decide by setting a 1-%-quota or alike. We should establish a system to prevent threats from nuclear powers and to appropriately deter aggression.

  • 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?
    まる
    補足説明

    In the international society, the countries with the nuclear powers now threaten other countries by using nuclear weapons. The resolution on sanctions against North Korea, which used to be unanimously decided, is now rejected. From the viewpoint that the world has changed, we should take measures to protect our land, territorial waters, and the lives of our citizens. We Nippon Ishin call the defense system for this purpose "active defense capability.

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

    A Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, without the inclusion of the nuclear-weapon states, will not have the effect of reducing nuclear weapons. However, Japan should participate as an observer and, as the only atomic-bombed country, should strive to create a forum that allows the nuclear power states to come to the table.

  • 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?
    まる
    補足説明

    Although nuclear sharing will not be implemented immediately, we should discuss the defense, without making nuclear sharing a taboo subject, so that Japan will not be invaded.

  • 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?
    ばつ
    補足説明

    Seventy-seven years have passed since the atomic bombing. Evidence and witnesses that they are A-bomb survivors will be very limited. It is difficult to make a fair judgment, and we cannot say for sure that we will add them to the scope immediately, but we would like to continue our consideration of this issue.

  • 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?
    ばつ
    補足説明

    We should restart the nuclear reactors that comply with the new regulatory standards. As we have learned from the invasion of Ukraine, in order to ensure a stable supply of energy, we should not only promote renewable energy but also leave a variety of other options open.

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

    First of all, it is not contaminated water but ALPS (Advanced Liquid Processing System)-treated water. There is no problem in diluting and discharging the water to meet marine discharge standards. And there are a number of countries that have released more tritium than the treated water that Fukushima is storing. However, we should also implement reputational damage countermeasures.

  • 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?
    ばつ
    補足説明

    [The appropriate amount] (None)
    [Explanation] It is important to support disaster victims. We must establish a system to properly calculate the amount of damage, rather than setting a maximum amount of payment.

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