Report questioning Japan PM's parliament attendance stokes debate

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The attendance of Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Diet committee sessions has come under scrutiny following a report by NXJI Research, a think tank led by former ruling-party lawmaker Masanobu Ogura. The study contends Takaichi's time in parliament should be limited to focus on policy and top-level diplomacy, suggesting restrictions on her presence in the legislature.

The proposal has sparked debate, with opposition lawmakers warning against reducing the prime minister's appearances before committees where her scrutiny of the government can be conducted. The report contrasts Takaichi's schedule with that of G7 counterparts, noting she attended 72 parliamentary sessions compared to 50 for the British prime minister, 13 for the German chancellor, and just one day for the U.S. president in 2022.

It also highlights her extensive time spent answering budget committee hearings, sometimes up to seven hours a day. Former Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda expressed astonishment at the Japanese leader's parliamentary schedule during its busiest periods. The study's recommendations have caught the attention of new Diet affairs chief Hideki Murai, who shared the article on his social media platform, X, expressing a desire for interested parties to review it.

However, Murai's advocacy for a streamlined Diet has raised concerns among opposition lawmakers, with Yoshitaka Saito, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan's Senate Diet affairs chief, warning that such reforms could lead to greater disregard for the Diet's processes.