Politics · Japan · 23 hrs ago
Japan ruling party proposes allowing tablets in House of Representatives chamber
A Liberal Democratic Party panel proposed allowing tablets in Japan’s House of Representatives chamber on October 29.
The proposal would permit tablets in the chamber, but questioners and responders could not use devices with communication functions.
The proposal is a draft from a project team focused on reforming the lower house.
The proposal takes a narrower approach than an earlier cross-party recommendation, which called for computers and tablets to be allowed in both houses and for online communication during questions and answers.
Team Mirai leader Takahiro Anno, who has pushed for the change, welcomed the draft in a post on X. The change could make it easier for lawmakers to use digital devices during parliamentary work, while the restriction is intended to prevent outside interference.
The sources do not say when the proposal will be finalized or whether the lower house will adopt it.
A Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) working group proposed allowing tablets in the House of Representatives chamber.
The proposal would bar questioners and respondents from using devices with communication functions, to prevent outside interference.
The group completed its draft proposal on October 29.
Team Mirai leader Takahiro Anno welcomed the proposal on social media.
Other parties, including the Democratic Party for the People and the Constitutional Democratic Party, have also called for tablets to be allowed.
- Who
- The LDP’s House reform project team proposed the change. Team Mirai leader Takahiro Anno welcomed it.
- What
- The draft proposal would allow tablets in the House of Representatives chamber, with restrictions on connected devices for questioners and respondents.
- When
- The draft was completed on October 29, 2026.
- Where
- The House of Representatives chamber in Japan.
- Why
- The proposal says the restriction on connected devices is intended to prevent outside interference.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Anno was elected to the House of Councillors and said on a television programme that computers and tablets were reportedly barred from the Diet because they were “not dignified.
A cross-party study group proposed allowing computers and tablets in both houses’ plenary chambers and submitted its proposal to the speakers of both houses.
The LDP’s House reform project team held its first meeting and heard Anno explain the study group’s proposal.
The LDP team completed a draft proposal to allow tablets in the House of Representatives chamber.
- Proposal date
- October 29, 2026
- Proposing group
- LDP House reform project team
- Permitted devices
- Tablets in the House of Representatives chamber
- Device restriction
- Questioners and respondents would not be allowed devices with communication functions
- Welcoming politician
- Takahiro Anno of Team Mirai
What people are saying
Uoooooo
Apparently, it’s not allowed because it’s not dignified.