[Japan In-depth Channel] October 1st, 2026 (Thursday) 13:30 - Emergency Live Stream!

"What to do about the 1% reduction in food tax and the reduction in the number of representatives? What about Japanese diplomacy after the US-China summit? An interview with former Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications, Yoshimasa Hayashi."

Guest: Yoshimasa Hayashi (Former Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications / Liberal Democratic Party, Member of the House of Representatives)
Interviewer: Hiroyuki Abe (Editor-in-Chief, Japan In-depth)

The extraordinary Diet session begins on October 5th. Debates directly impacting people's lives and the state of politics will begin, including the Takaichi administration's proposed reduction of the consumption tax rate on food to 1%, the reduction of the number of representatives, and political funding reform.

Our guest this time is former Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications, Yoshimasa Hayashi, who has served as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Defense, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Chief Cabinet Secretary, and Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications.

To what extent can a 1% reduction in food tax support households struggling with high prices? Should the reduction in the number of parliamentary seats target proportional representation or single-member constituencies? We will frankly ask Mr. Hayashi, as a ruling party politician, his views on the policies of the Takaichi administration.

Furthermore, how do you evaluate the recent US-China summit? Amidst the ongoing US-China conflict, how should Japan engage with China while maintaining the Japan-US alliance as its cornerstone? Drawing on his experience as Foreign Minister and Chief Cabinet Secretary, we will delve into the challenges facing Japanese diplomacy.

Now that he is no longer in the cabinet, what distance will Mr. Hayashi maintain from the Takaichi administration, and what message will he convey? Just before the extraordinary Diet session, we will ask Mr. Yoshimasa Hayashi about key issues in domestic and foreign policy.

▼Main Themes (Planned)

・How to evaluate the reduction of the consumption tax rate on food products to 1%
・How to balance measures against high prices with fiscal discipline
・How should the reduction of the number of House of Representatives members be carried out?
・Political funding reform and restoring confidence in the Liberal Democratic Party
・How to evaluate the US-China summit meeting
・What should Japanese diplomacy be like amidst the US-China conflict?
・How should one engage with the Takaichi administration from outside the cabinet?
・The politics that Yoshimasa Hayashi aims for in the future

■Guest
Yoshimasa Hayashi
Former Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications / Liberal Democratic Party, Member of the House of Representatives

■Interviewer
Hiroyuki Abe
Editor-in-Chief, Japan In-depth

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