Person

Sanae Takaichi

1. Follow-up: Xi Jinping's condolence message for Yasuo Fukuda urges Japan to protect the political basis of ties; Takaichi may attend Shenzhen APEC

   Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday, Oct 27, sent a message of condolence to the family of former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, who died on Thursday, Oct 22, at the age of 90, calling him an upright and responsible politician, an old friend of the Chinese people who held a correct view of history, and voicing hope that Japan's leaders will earnestly safeguard the political foundation of bilateral ties. It was a rare direct reference by Xi to China-Japan relations, which fell to a low of many years after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested last November that Japan could send forces if China took action against Taiwan. Japan's foreign minister told the upper house the same day that Tokyo is arranging for Takaichi to attend the APEC leaders' meeting in Shenzhen on Nov 18-19, and that a bilateral meeting is still under consideration.

   Oct 28, 2026 Morning
2. Follow-up: Germany's chancellor meets Japan's Takaichi in Tokyo on critical minerals and chip supply chains

   Germany's chancellor left Berlin on Oct 26 for a five-day trip to Singapore, Japan and South Korea, with a stop in Japan on Oct 28-29. NHK reported that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi would hold talks with him on Wednesday, Oct 28, to confirm stronger supply chain resilience across a wide range of items including critical minerals and semiconductors, and closer cooperation on cybersecurity. RFI reported that the two sides might discuss German participation in the next-generation fighter jet being developed by Japan, Britain and Italy. In Singapore, the chancellor said the EU should push for more free trade agreements in the Pacific region, opposed a complete decoupling from China and called for reducing 'unhealthy one-sided dependence'.

   Oct 28, 2026 Morning
3. German Chancellor Merz to visit Japan and South Korea next week, meeting PM Takaichi on Oct 28 and President Lee Jae-myung in Seoul from Oct 29

   NHK reported that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will visit Japan next week for a summit with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on cooperation including economic security. South Korean media said Merz will then make a two-day visit to South Korea from Oct 29 for a summit with President Lee Jae-myung in Seoul. KBS said it will be his first visit to South Korea as chancellor, and he will also attend the 19th Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business in Seoul.

   Oct 24, 2026 Afternoon
4. Japan weighs phasing out gasoline subsidies from December; average price could rise to 175–180 yen a litre

   Two ruling-party officials said on Oct 23 that Japan's government is considering gradually cutting gasoline subsidies as early as December over fears funding will run out. The emergency measure, introduced in March as the Middle East war drove up oil prices, holds the national average for regular gasoline at about 170 yen a litre, costs billions of dollars a month and is rapidly draining a 3.1 trillion yen supplementary budget passed in June. Under the plan discussed by the government and ruling coalition, weekly payments to fuel wholesalers would shrink, lifting the average retail price to about 175 yen in December and about 180 yen in January; NHK said Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi would review the support, including the 170-yen level.

   Oct 24, 2026 Morning
5. Russia arrests Hokkaido Shimbun reporter Yuki Imai in Far East; Tokyo protests to Russian ambassador

   Russia said it had arrested Hokkaido Shimbun reporter Yuki Imai in the Sakhalin region of the Far East on suspicion of gathering information on mobilised soldiers, and released footage of his transfer to Lefortovo Prison in Moscow; Japanese embassy staff in Moscow were reportedly denied a meeting. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi denied he was spying for Japan, and his newspaper took the same position. Japan lodged a formal protest with the Russian ambassador in Tokyo on Wednesday. Analysts said the arrest deepens already frosty Japan–Russia ties and that a weak Tokyo response could invite further tests from Moscow.

   Oct 20, 2026 Afternoon
6. Follow-up: PM Sanae Takaichi skips autumn Yasukuni festival visit, offers masakaki fee privately

   Yasukuni Shrine's autumn festival ran Oct 17–19; Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi had already offered a masakaki in the prime minister's name on Oct 17. NHK reported she decided not to visit during the festival and instead offered a ritual fee (tamagushi-ryō) privately via LDP General Council chair Kajiyama, who visited on Oct 19 and also offered in her capacity as party president. About 70 members of a cross-party group that visits Yasukuni together went on Oct 19, including Land, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Ibayashi from Takaichi's cabinet; LDP election strategy chief Nishimura also visited that day.

   Oct 19, 2026 Afternoon
7. Takaichi: food consumption-tax cut funding to be reviewed on spending and revenue; 'not ruling out' JGBs

   Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told the Upper House Budget Committee on Oct 19 that funding for a food consumption-tax cut would be reviewed on both spending and revenue sides, with careful calculation of a feasible fiscal scale. Asahi Shimbun reported she said she was 'not ruling out' issuing government bonds, while also saying overall budget bond issuance would be kept appropriately in check.

   Oct 19, 2026 Afternoon
8. Kyodo poll: Japan PM Sanae Takaichi's cabinet approval falls below 50%, lowest since taking office

   A Kyodo News poll conducted Oct 17–18 put Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's cabinet approval at 49.1%, the lowest since she took office last October. The drop may be linked to slow handling of the case of farm minister Kazuo Yana, criticised for saying he would cut road funding to municipalities that did not support him, who resigned on Oct 14. 57.7% of respondents said his replacement came 'too late', and 81.5% said his resignation was warranted.

   Oct 19, 2026 Morning