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The LDP's decision to field former lawmaker Mio Sugita in the Upper House election has sparked backlash due to her history of discriminatory remarks. Despite concerns from within the party and the public, Sugita's candidacy is believed to have been influenced by former senior members of the Abe faction.

Over 1,000 individuals have applied to run as candidates for Saisei no Michi, a new regional political party founded by Shinji Ishimaru, in the upcoming Tokyo metropolitan assembly election. The party aims to field up to 60 candidates across all 42 electoral districts and will conduct a rigorous selection process involving document screening, written tests, and interviews.

Japan has finalized a plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 60% from 2013 levels by 2035, aligning with the Biden administration's new U.S. target under the Paris climate agreement. However, environmentalists and politicians argue that the target remains insufficient for the world's fifth-biggest carbon emitter, which heavily relies on fossil fuels.

A recent study has found that the number of Japanese eel larvae reaching the northern island of Hokkaido has increased by an estimated 20 times in the past two decades. This phenomenon is attributed to changes in ocean currents caused by global warming, which have made it easier for the larvae to be carried to higher latitudes.

Tomoko Yoshino, head of Japan's largest labor group Rengo, pressed Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's ruling Liberal Democratic Party at its annual meeting to support legislation allowing married couples to have separate surnames. Her speech caught many attendees off guard and put the issue firmly in the political spotlight.