Debate grows over Japan prime minister’s attendance at parliament hearings

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s attendance at parliamentary committee sessions has become a subject of debate.

A think tank report published in September argued that the prime minister should spend less time in parliament to focus on policy and diplomacy.

Japanese prime ministers can face lengthy hearings, including budget committee sessions that may last up to seven hours a day.

The report compared parliamentary appearances by leaders in several major economies, finding that Japan’s prime minister spoke in parliament on more days than the British, German and US leaders in the period it examined.

The debate has gained attention as Takaichi has described a demanding schedule, including preparing late at night for lawmakers’ questions.

Hideki Murai, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s new Diet affairs chief, shared an article about the report, but said he only wanted interested people to read it.

Opposition lawmakers fear that streamlining parliament could shorten deliberations and reduce scrutiny of the government, and one has vowed to oppose such moves in the upper house.