Key Facts
• July 19: Final day of Upper House election campaign in Japan.
• Party leaders focused on key districts to secure seats.
• Election positioned as a de facto referendum on government leadership.
• Voting and ballot counting scheduled for July 20.
• Shigeru Ishiba emphasized disaster preparedness and national security.
• Proposed making Japan the world’s leading disaster prevention nation.
• Criticized quick-fix policies like abolishing the gasoline tax.
• Highlighted North Korea’s missile threat and China’s role in regional instability.
• Stressed the importance of increasing Japan’s food self-sufficiency rate, currently at 38%.
• Advocated for responsible governance to ensure national independence and peace.
Summary
On the final day of Japan’s Upper House election campaign, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba of the Liberal Democratic Party delivered a compelling appeal, focusing on disaster preparedness, national security, and food self-sufficiency. Ishiba criticized superficial policies like abolishing the gasoline tax, emphasizing the need for sustainable solutions to address aging infrastructure. He highlighted the growing threat from North Korea and China’s involvement in regional conflicts, urging voters to prioritize security. Additionally, Ishiba called for increasing Japan’s food self-sufficiency rate, currently at 38%, to ensure the nation’s independence and peace. The election, seen as a referendum on government leadership, concludes with voting and ballot counting on July 20.
