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Japanese Prime Ministers have been handing out gift vouchers to newly elected Lower House members for over a decade, a practice that has recently come under scrutiny for its legality and ethical implications. While Prime Minister Ishiba has acknowledged the practice, he has declined to commit to investigating it further.

Asian stock markets fell on Friday, March 28, 2025, as investors reacted to U.S. President Donald Trump's latest tariffs on imported automobiles, with Japan's Nikkei 225 index experiencing a particularly sharp decline of 2.2%. Meanwhile, Wall Street closed with modest losses on Thursday, with the S&P 500 slipping 0.3% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling 0.4%.

U.S. President Donald Trump has questioned the fairness of the U.S.-Japan security treaty, which obligates the U.S. to defend Japan but not vice versa. Experts disagree on whether the treaty should be revised, with some arguing for a more balanced arrangement and others highlighting Japan's significant economic and military contributions.

Asian markets were mixed on Wednesday ahead of a crucial interest rate decision by the U.S. Federal Reserve, with Japan's Nikkei 225 edging up while Hong Kong's Hang Seng and the Shanghai Composite remained relatively flat. Wall Street had a rough day on Tuesday, with the S&P 500 dropping 1.1% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling 0.6%.

The Liberal Democratic Party's decision to field former lawmaker Mio Sugita in the Upper House election has sparked backlash due to her past discriminatory remarks, raising concerns within the party and from the public. Despite calls for self-reflection and a fuller explanation from Sugita, the LDP leadership ultimately left the decision to voters in the upcoming election.