Written Questions to Govt Down 90 Pct in Japan Lower House

Tokyo, Aug. 29 (Jiji Press)–The number of written questions submitted to Japan’s House of Representatives by lawmakers seeking the government’s views during a special session of the Diet, the country’s parliament, that ended in July fell by 90 pct from an ordinary Diet session in 2025. The drop appears to reflect the defeat of many opposition lawmakers in the February election for the lower chamber of the Diet, raising concerns about the parliament’s oversight function. During the special Diet session, 42 questions were submitted to the Lower House. The number of questions submitted to the Senate, recently renamed from the House of Councillors, the upper Diet chamber, where the opposition holds a majority, totaled 112. The largest number of questions was submitted by the opposition Centrist Reform Alliance in the Lower House and by the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan in the Upper House. There were no submissions from the ruling parties. In contrast, during the ordinary Diet session in 2025, 352 questions were submitted to the Lower House, where the ruling camp did not hold a majority. From 2022 to 2024, more than 150 questions were submitted each year in ordinary Diet sessions. Such questions can be submitted by all lawmakers of the ruling and opposition parties while the Diet is in session. The government is expected to respond in writing within seven days of receipt. These responses are seen as significant as they reflect the government’s position after cabinet approval. However, some point out that the process increases the burden on government officials who prepare the responses. The questions cover a range of topics, including national policy issues and scandals involving the administration. During the latest special Diet session, the political neutrality of an incumbent Self-Defense Force officer was questioned after the officer sang the national anthem at a ruling Liberal Democratic Party convention. At a press conference on Aug. 21, CRA leader Junya Ogawa said the sharp decline reflected, among other factors, a decrease in the number of lawmakers from the former CDP camp who had actively submitted such questions. Written questions by lawmakers “play a very important role in ensuring accountability to the people,” Ogawa said. “I’m very concerned that the Diet’s ability to fulfill its functions is being undermined.” END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]