A Yomiuri Shimbun survey shows many candidates in Japan's lower house election are emphasizing economy and employment, along with child-rearing support, as key issues. Discussions on consumption tax are prominent, but fiscal reconstruction and politics-and-money scandals receive little attention. While some opposition parties call for abolishing the tax, the ruling party prioritizes economic stimulus measures.
According to a recent Yomiuri Shimbun survey, 71% of 1,251 responding candidates out of 1,285 in Japan's lower house election identified economy and employment as a key issue for campaigning. This focus spans ruling and opposition parties alike. Candidates from the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Japan Innovation Party, and others selected it most frequently, advocating for temporary or targeted consumption tax cuts to boost the economy and counter rising prices.
In contrast, parties like the Japanese Communist Party and Reiwa Shinsengumi chose consumption tax as an issue, with 33% overall supporting its abolition or reduction to zero in their pledges. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, in a speech in Higashimatsuyama, Saitama Prefecture, declared, 'What we must protect is not the government’s coffer but people’s purses,' highlighting her policy of responsible proactive public finances, though she avoided mentioning tax cuts.
The survey revealed that 63% of candidates believe the government should prioritize fiscal stimulus for the economy, compared to just 11% favoring fiscal reconstruction and debt reduction. Only 8% selected fiscal policy as a campaign focus, indicating shallow discussions on funding sources.
Support for child-rearing and pensions, health care, and nursing care both ranked second at 36%. Sanseito leader Sohei Kamiya, speaking in Sendai, stressed, 'Which is more important—fiscal resources or children? If the number of children declines, it will result in reduced fiscal resources,' prioritizing spending on birth rate measures.
The issue of politics and money garnered only 9% interest, down sharply from 37% in a 2024 pre-election survey. Centrist Reform Alliance co-leader Yoshihiko Noda criticized the LDP in Kobe for allowing scandal-tainted ex-lawmakers to run in both constituencies and proportional races, saying, '[The LDP] is standing its ground, trying to bring all of them back to national politics.' Yet, such critiques have failed to gain traction.
Overall, the election campaign centers on inflation countermeasures and growth, overshadowing traditional scandal debates.
