Tokyo International News Agency

The mascot character "Tunk Tunk" for the Yokohama International Horticultural Expo 2027 has been installed at the Prime Minister's Official Residence, and Prime Minister Ishiba's unexpected reaction has become a major topic on social media. Previously, the residence was home to Myak-Myak, the mascot for the Osaka-Kansai Expo, known for its voice. Prime Minister Ishiba was reportedly often seen talking to Myak-Myak, enjoying their interactions. However, the newly introduced Tunk Tunk simply stands silently. In response, Prime Minister Ishiba is said to have wistfully murmured, "It doesn't speak..." As soon as Prime Minister Ishiba's comment was reported, the phrase "doesn't speak" quickly climbed to the top of Yahoo!'s trending rankings. On X (formerly Twitter), comments poured in, such as "So sad and cute," "LOL so cute," "The PM is also suffering from Myak-Myak withdrawal 🥹," and "He's clea...

Prime Minister Ishiba reportedly firmed up his intention to resign on the afternoon of the 7th, sending shockwaves through Nagatacho, Japan's political center. An NHK News Flash announced, "Prime Minister Ishiba solidifies intention to resign," with multiple media outlets following suit. The Prime Minister is expected to hold a press conference at the Prime Minister's Official Residence at 6 PM on the same day to formally announce his resignation. The background to his resignation is largely attributed to the responsibility for the results of the recent House of Councillors election. Additionally, an impending internal Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) survey, scheduled for the 8th, to gauge support for an early party presidential election, is believed to have played a significant role. Sources close to the matter suggested, "It was the only way to avoid a party split," indicating a clear aim to prevent internal party chaos. There is also a view that the concl...

The results of a nationwide public opinion survey conducted by the Mainichi Shimbun on July 26th and 27th have been released, eliciting various reactions. According to the survey, the approval rating for the Shigeru Ishiba Cabinet was 29%, a 5-point increase from the previous survey. Furthermore, in response to the question "Who is most suitable to be the next Prime Minister?", Prime Minister Ishiba himself topped the list with 20% support. Sanae Takaichi ranked second. Regarding these survey results, various opinions are being exchanged on social media. Many voices of surprise and doubt have been raised, such as "Why did the approval rating go up?" and "It's incomprehensible that Mr. Ishiba topped the 'next Prime Minister' question despite suffering a major defeat in the election." Among them, critical opinions questioning the credibility of the survey itself, such as "public opinion manipulation" and "biased reporting," ca...

On the 23rd, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, in response to the agreement reached in US-Japan tariff negotiations, stated regarding his future that he would "make a decision based on the outcome [of the agreement]," adding that he "must scrutinize the content." This remark caused a significant stir on social media, with a barrage of questions and criticisms such as, "What does it mean to scrutinize the content *after* an agreement has been reached?" The Prime Minister had previously indicated his resignation by the end of August, following the poor results in the recent House of Councillors election. While he had cited progress in the US-Japan tariff negotiations as one factor in determining his resignation timeline, his comment about "scrutinizing the content" *after* the agreement was reached drew widespread confusion and anger from social media users, who asked, "Isn't it normal to agree *after* scrutiny?" and "Does the Prime...

As vote counting for the House of Councillors election progresses, it has come to light that Taro Aso, Supreme Advisor to the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), told those around him that he "will not approve" Prime Minister Ishiba's continued tenure, sending shockwaves through the political world. Amidst growing predictions that the LDP will suffer a historic defeat in this election, calls for Prime Minister Ishiba's resignation have rapidly erupted within the party. According to sources, lawmakers from the Aso faction, led by Supreme Advisor Aso, have convened an emergency meeting to analyze the election situation. Aso himself is reportedly showing a strong stance to those around him, stating, "I will not approve of [Prime Minister Ishiba's] continued tenure." This is seen as a move to pressure the cabinet into a general resignation following the election results. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ishiba is reportedly indicating his intention to remain in office ...

Reports that Prime Minister Ishiba confided to those around him, "I'm really tired now," have spread, leading to a flood of criticism and sarcastic remarks on social media regarding this statement. The LDP-Komeito coalition government is facing a severe decline in approval ratings, with half of Liberal Democratic Party supporters abandoning them, raising concerns about the government's future. According to reports, Prime Minister Ishiba's remark, indicating his fatigue, is seen as a reflection of the current situation where the government is being forced to choose between "expanding the coalition," "stepping down from power," or "dissolving the House of Representatives." In response to this dire situation, numerous posts on social media call for his early resignation, with comments such as "This would be resolved if Ishiba-san just stepped down quickly" and "He should have resigned en masse." The public, in particu...

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's remark, referring to the "troublesome Japanese language and Japanese customs" in a statement concerning the acceptance of foreign talent, has caused a significant stir on the social media platform "X" (formerly Twitter). This comment rapidly spread, drawing a flood of severe criticism from the public, with comments such as "He's disrespecting Japanese culture" and "Unacceptable for a Prime Minister." Many users pointed out that the Prime Minister's statement was inappropriate regarding his own country's language and culture. A chorus of angry voices followed, saying things like, "I don't understand the mindset of calling one's own language 'troublesome'," "Is he not Japanese?", and "This is an insult to the people." Numerous opinions also severely questioned the Prime Minister's qualifications, with calls for his "immediate dismissal" and ...