Key Facts
• On August 4, 2025, PM Shigeru Ishiba addressed the Budget Committee.
• Ishiba agreed to collaborate with opposition leader Yoshihiko Noda on corporate donation reforms.
• Noda proposed joint discussions to resolve the long-standing issue of corporate and group donations.
• Ishiba’s 19-character response, “I would like to do so,” caused a stir in the committee.
• Noda criticized Ishiba’s insistence on staying in office despite election losses.
• Both leaders emphasized the importance of bipartisan cooperation for reform.
• Ishiba acknowledged the need for fairness across all political parties.
• Noda urged swift action, citing limited time before the parliamentary session ends.
• Both leaders referenced their shared experience in 1993-1994 political reform debates.
• The session highlighted rare agreement between ruling and opposition party leaders.
Summary
During the August 4, 2025, Budget Committee session, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba agreed to opposition leader Yoshihiko Noda’s proposal for bipartisan discussions on corporate and group donation reforms. Noda criticized Ishiba’s decision to remain in office despite election losses, urging immediate action to resolve the issue before the parliamentary session ends. Ishiba’s 19-character response, “I would like to do so,” drew audible reactions from the committee. Both leaders emphasized the importance of fairness and collaboration, referencing their shared history in political reform debates from the 1990s. The session marked a rare moment of agreement between ruling and opposition leaders.
