National Diet To Begin Session, Kishida's Policy Speech Takes Focus

The National Diet convenes for an extraordinary session today, the first full-fledged debate since the July upper house election. Prime Minister Kishida will deliver a policy speech at the plenary sessions of both houses, which will be followed by questions from opposition lawmakers through the rest of this week.

• Jiji reports that Kishida will vow to take "unprecedented and drastic measures" to ease the burden of higher costs of living. With regards to rapid yen depreciation, he will pledge continued removal of border restrictions to lure more foreign tourists into Japan. Kishida may reportedly announce that he is targeting Y5tn in annual spending by foreign visitors.
• The session will last for 69 days, with the government expected to submit a supplementary budget bill in November to serve as a funding source for inflation countermeasures. The government is under pressure to enact policies that will help it regain public trust amid a plunge in approval ratings. Some analysts are warning that this could push Kishida into delivering an oversized economic support package.
• The plenary session of the House of Representatives will begin at noon local time.