
Prime Minister Ishiba's Vision for a "Pleasant Japan"
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba opened the first regular session of the Diet under his administration on January 24th, 2024, with a policy speech emphasizing the importance of regional development and sustainability. Recognizing the nation's declining population and the need for a transformed socioeconomic system, Ishiba outlined his vision for a "Reiwa's reform of the Japanese archipelago."
Drawing inspiration from the late economist Taichi Sakaiya's concept of a "third Japan," Ishiba envisions a nation that prioritizes individual dreams, fosters collaboration between public and private sectors, and promotes interconnectedness between urban and rural areas. This "pleasant Japan" would guarantee security and safety for all, fostering hope and happiness among its citizens.
To achieve this vision, Ishiba plans to position regional development at the core of his policies. Unlike past initiatives that focused on hard infrastructure, Ishiba's approach emphasizes "soft infrastructure" to attract people and businesses to local regions. This includes creating an environment conducive to relocation for industry, government, and academia, fostering new industrial sectors and innovation, and developing infrastructure for a new era, including decarbonized power sources, artificial intelligence, and data centers.
Ishiba also outlined his vision for diplomacy and security, emphasizing the importance of strengthening the Japan-U.S. alliance and collaborating on various security and economic issues. In the area of economic policy, he prioritized achieving wage increases that exceed price hikes and addressing concerns about the social security system.
Acknowledging the challenges of governing as a minority ruling party, Ishiba expressed his commitment to building consensus across party lines and engaging in responsible deliberations that reflect the diverse voices of the people. He also acknowledged the need for political reform in response to the LDP factions' financial scandal, calling for discussions beyond party boundaries. However, he did not provide specifics regarding corporate and group donations or the issue of selective surnames for married couples.