- Ishiba’s Approval Rating Continues To Decline
According to a joint public opinion poll conducted by Nikkei and TV Tokyo between March 21 and 23, the approval rating for the Ishiba Cabinet dropped by 5 percentage points from the previous month to 35%.
The disapproval rating rose by 7 points to 59%.
The decline is believed to be linked to revelations that Prime Minister Ishiba hosted a private appreciation party at the Prime Minister’s residence for first-term Liberal Democratic Party members of the House of Representatives, during which he distributed gift certificates worth 100,000 yen per person.
On the policy front, the Cabinet announced a plan to make high school tuition free without any income restrictions, but this measure did not significantly boost its approval rating.
- Brazilian President Lula Visited Japan As State Guest
This week, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva visited Japan as a state guest. On the 26th, he held talks with Prime Minister Ishiba, and they reached agreements on the following points:
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l The two countries’ leaders will visit each other every two years.
l A new foreign and defense dialogue framework will be established.
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l Cooperation to strengthen supply chains for food security.
l Promotion of exports of Japanese food products to Brazil.
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l Joint efforts to lead global decarbonization in the automobile sector by combining Brazil’s biofuels with Japan’s hybrid technology.
l Japan’s ODA support to improve land left degraded by deforestation and slash-and-burn agriculture in Brazil.
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l Launch of negotiations on a "working holiday" program that allows young people from both countries to stay and work in each other’s country for an extended period.
Meanwhile, President Lula requested Japan to lift the ban on Brazilian beef imports and to conclude an EPA (Economic Partnership Agreement) with Mercosur, but the Japanese side remains cautious.
3. Significant Blows Expected To Japan’s Auto Industry By President Trump’s Additional Tariffs To Automobiles And Parts
Following U.S. President Trump's announcement yesterday that a 25% additional tariff will be imposed on imported automobiles starting from the 3rd of next month, concerns are growing over the impact on Japan’s automobile industry, for which the U.S. is the largest export market.
According to the Nikkei newspaper, Japan produced 8.23 million vehicles last year, with nearly 1.37 million exported to the U.S.—making it the top destination by country.
Currently, passenger cars are already subject to a 2.5% tariff and trucks to a 25% tariff; and these will surge to 27.5% and 50%, respectively.
Furthermore, from May 3, a 25% tariff will also be added to key components such as engines, potentially dealing a significant blow to domestic subcontractors in Japan.
Prime Minister Ishiba has stated that Japan will make every effort to persuade the U.S. government to exempt it from the additional tariffs, but the situation remains highly uncertain.
4. METI To Financially Support Domestic Aircraft Industry
According to the Yomiuri, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry announced this week a plan to provide support totaling approximately 120 billion yen over five years starting in fiscal 2025 to strengthen Japan’s domestic aircraft industry.
The support will include technological demonstrations for the production of airframe components, enhancement of supply chains, and development of fuel-efficient engines.
It will also promote the acquisition of know-how in aircraft maintenance and repair, which currently relies heavily on overseas providers.
Additionally, the initiative aims to strengthen the production base for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), with a particular focus on their use in sectors facing severe labor shortages such as construction and logistics.
METI has set a goal of achieving mass production of domestically manufactured passenger aircraft and developing next-generation aircraft by 2035.