The Sapporo High Court's ruling that the lack of legal provisions for same-sex marriage in Japan is unconstitutional has sparked heated debate, with conservative lawmakers opposing it while opposition parties and legal experts call for swift action to legalize same-sex marriage. Public opinion appears to be shifting in favor of same-sex marriage, and the LDP's junior coalition partner, Komeito, has also shown understanding towards it.
According to International Data Corp, global smartphone shipments increased by nearly 8% in the first quarter, marking the third consecutive quarter of growth and the return of Samsung to the top position. Samsung led the market with 60.1 million units shipped, followed by Apple with 50.1 million units, while Xiaomi and Transsion experienced significant increases in market share.
Indonesian President-elect Prabowo Subianto expressed his intention to enhance relations with Japan during a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, following a previous visit to China. Subianto, currently serving as the Defense Minister, emphasized the long-standing friendship between Indonesia and Japan and the need to further strengthen their cooperative ties, especially in the face of China's growing military presence.
Toyota has issued a recall for over 135,000 Prius vehicles manufactured between November 2022 and April 2024 due to a faulty switch in the rear door handle. This switch, with inadequate waterproof performance, could malfunction when exposed to a large amount of water, potentially causing the rear door to open unexpectedly.
The LDP released proposals to revise the Political Fund Control Law, including requiring letters of confirmation for fund reports and holding lawmakers accountable for misstatements by accounting officials. However, the proposals have been criticized for lacking specific details and failing to address key issues like corporate donations and policy activity funds.