Key Facts
• Upper House election voting scheduled for July 20, 2025.
• Major issues: inflation countermeasures and rice policy.
• Over 2,100 food items to see price hikes in July 2025, 5x more than last year.
• Average rice price: ¥3,801 per 5kg, up ¥1,500 from last year.
• Candidates: NHK Party’s Harada Kimisei, Sanseitō’s Hirai Eriko, LDP’s Nakamura Mai, CDP’s Uchikoshi Sakura.
• Sanseitō proposes phased tax cuts, aiming for 0% consumption tax and monthly ¥100,000 per child.
• LDP pledges ¥20,000 cash handouts per citizen, with additional support for children and low-income adults.
• CDP plans 1-year 0% food tax, ¥20,000 cash handouts, and free school meals.
• NHK Party advocates fiscal spending while maintaining primary balance.
• Government releases stockpiled rice to curb rising prices.
• Sanseitō criticizes past “reduction policy” as a failure, proposes doubling food self-sufficiency.
• LDP supports stockpiled rice release, aims to expand farmer income guarantees.
• CDP calls for a shift in rice policy, reviving and upgrading individual income support.
• NHK Party suggests exporting Japanese rice globally.
Summary
The upcoming Upper House election in Niigata, set for July 20, 2025, focuses on inflation and rice policy. Candidates include Harada Kimisei (NHK Party), Hirai Eriko (Sanseitō), Nakamura Mai (LDP), and Uchikoshi Sakura (CDP). Inflation remains a pressing issue, with over 2,100 food items seeing price hikes and rice prices rising significantly. Sanseitō proposes tax cuts and child allowances, while the LDP emphasizes cash handouts and farmer income guarantees. The CDP advocates for a 0% food tax and free school meals, and the NHK Party suggests exporting Japanese rice. The government has released stockpiled rice to stabilize prices, but candidates differ on future agricultural policies. The election will determine how these critical issues are addressed.
