Key Facts
• Dec 8, 2025: Cabinet approved salary law amendment to suspend extra pay for officials.
• Dec 11, 2025: Opposition criticized government for inconsistent explanations on amendment details.
• Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Kihara apologized during House of Representatives committee meeting.
• Initial explanatory document was revised after being deemed unclear; older version distributed by mistake.
• Revised document redistributed, prompting opposition to demand further clarification.
• Kihara clarified the explanatory document was not part of the cabinet decision.
• Delays occurred in committee discussions and House plenary session for budget approval.
• Both the salary law amendment and supplementary budget passed the House with majority support.
Summary
The Japanese government faced criticism from opposition parties over inconsistent explanations regarding a salary law amendment aimed at suspending additional pay for the prime minister and cabinet members. The confusion stemmed from revisions to an explanatory document, which was mistakenly distributed in its outdated form. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Kihara apologized for the confusion during a parliamentary committee meeting, clarifying that the document was not part of the cabinet decision. The incident caused delays in legislative proceedings, including discussions on the amendment and the supplementary budget. Despite the setbacks, both measures were approved by the House of Representatives and forwarded to the Senate.
