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Japan's ruling coalition and Nippon Ishin agreed to make high school education free from fiscal 2025, marking the first time in 29 years that a draft initial budget has been revised through talks between the ruling and opposition parties at the Diet. This agreement ensures the passage of the budget proposal before the new fiscal year begins in April.

A small humanoid robot named Robohon is being tested as a copilot for elderly drivers in Japan, with the goal of reducing traffic accidents by providing real-time information and leveraging the "passenger effect." The project, led by Nagoya University and Sharp Corp., aims to commercialize a driving assistance system by the end of March 2027.

The ruling coalition and opposition Nippon Ishin Party agreed on education and social welfare policies, including free senior high school education and lower social insurance premiums, to ensure the passage of the fiscal 2025 budget. This agreement is crucial as the ruling coalition lacks a majority in the Lower House and requires support from opposition parties to pass legislation.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba called for unity within the LDP to win two key elections this summer, acknowledging the need to rebuild public trust after the party's loss of a Lower House majority in the last election. The LDP faces an uphill battle to restore its strength, but Ishiba outlined plans to address concerns about wage hikes, work-style reforms, and political transparency.

The Japanese government's decision to incorporate the Science Council of Japan (SCJ) while strengthening state oversight has sparked renewed concerns about academic freedom. The move comes after Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's controversial refusal to appoint six candidates nominated by the council in 2020, leading to speculation that their political views differed from those of his predecessor, Shinzo Abe.