Japan Diet passes "2nd capital" bill as 2026 main session effectively ends

Image: Chris 73 / Wikimedia Commons politics Japan Diet passes "2nd capital" bill as 2026 main session effectively ends Today 07:09 am JST Today | 07:20 am JST 3 Comments TOKYO Japan's parliament on Friday passed ruling bloc-sponsored legislation to create a "second capital" as a backup for Tokyo in emergencies such as disasters, paving the way for this year's main session to end after an eight-day extension. The legislation had faced harsh backlash from the opposition camp, which argued that it was tailored only to the Osaka-based Japan Innovation Party, the junior coalition partner of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The second capital initiative stems from a coalition deal signed on Oct.

20 between the LDP and the JIP, whose backing helped elect Takaichi in parliament as Japan's first female premier the following day. The creation of the backup capital system could add impetus to the JIP's drive to reorganize the western Japan city of Osaka into a metropolis like Tokyo, a plan also aimed at streamlining administrative functions and decentralizing power from Tokyo. The last business day before the Diet's official end Saturday was marked by a last-minute tussle between the ruling camp, which sought to pass the bill in time, and opposition parties, which wanted their demands reflected before a parliamentary vote.

The opposition demanded a ban on holding local elections and a referendum on the same day to prevent voters' support for particular candidates or parties from influencing how they vote in the plebiscite. That is apparently because JIP leader Hirofumi Yoshimura, who doubles as Osaka governor, has said he aims to hold a third referendum and the next gubernatorial race on the same day next spring. The JIP's past attempts to realize its Osaka metropolis plan fell flat, with two referendums in 2015 and 2020 both rejected by narrow margins amid opposition from the LDP.

Following concessions by the ruling bloc, the opposition finally agreed to allow the bill to be put to a vote at a plenary session of the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of parliament, on Friday night. Under the new law, the prime minister can designate a backup capital based on applications from prefectures that meet certain requirements including population and economic size. The enactment came after the 150-day session that began in mid-February was extended through Saturday as some key bills for the ruling camp failed to pass parliament before the initial closing on July 17 due to a stalemate in Diet affairs.

The gridlock followed an opposition boycott that lasted about two weeks from late June as the ruling bloc tried to force deliberations on the second capital bill and another on slashing the number of House of Representatives seats. Other bills that passed the upper house on Friday for enactment included one to revise the law governing referendums on amending the Constitution, in preparation for a future national vote that would be Japan's first on revising the supreme law, a long-held goal of the LDP. The House of Councillors has decided to rename itself the Senate.

© KYODO ©2026 GPlusMedia Inc. How to Buy a Home in Japan Learn how to buy a home in Japan, including the purchase process, financing options and latest market trends. The webinar will be held from 11am to 12pm (Japan Standard Time) on August 8 (Saturday), 2026.

Click Here Want to study in Japan? Whether you want to study Japanese, learn a profession or get an MBA at a university in Japan, GaijinPot has something just for you! Learn More Sort by Oldest Latest Popular 3 Comments Login to comment sakurasuki Today 07:26 am JST to create a "second capital" as a backup for Tokyo in emergencies Make sense, especially earthquake that has been waited so far still won't come.

However when it come? https://www.theguardian.

com/cities/2019/jun/12/this-is-not-a-what-if-story-tokyo-braces-for-the-earthquake-of-a-century -3 ( +0 / -3 ) Ray Today 07:27 am JST A second capital - what a load of nonsense and a waste of time. Don’t they have more pressing issues - like the Japanese economy in tatters. -3 ( +0 / -3 ) Ray Today 07:28 am JST This is like fiddling while Rome is burning.

-3 ( +0 / -3 ) Login to leave a comment Facebook users Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts. Facebook Connect Login with your JapanToday account Remember Me Forgot password?

User registration