Takaichi Cabinet Approval Falls to Record Low as Japan Pushes Controversial Bills

According to Lianhe Zaobao citing Bloomberg and Kyodo News, Japan's parliament on Friday, July 24, passed a bill to establish a "second capital" so another city can serve as the seat of government if Tokyo is paralyzed by a major disaster. The ruling coalition won 123 to 121 in the upper house with support from a small new party and three independent lawmakers, after the bill had cleared the lower house easily. The measure, strongly promoted by coalition partner Nippon Ishin no Kai, was one reason the government extended the parliamentary session by eight days. A Kyodo News poll released Sunday, July 26, showed support for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's cabinet falling to 53.7%, the lowest since she took office in October, while disapproval rose to 33.7%. Takaichi's government has also pushed other controversial bills, including one to amend the Imperial Household Law to allow the imperial family to adopt distant relatives and preserve male succession, and another to ban insults to the Japanese flag. It also plans to finalize a food consumption tax cut policy by early August, though parties have not reached agreement on the details.