The ruling Liberal Democratic and Komei parties on July 16 in the House of Representatives plenary session railroaded through the controversial war bills with their majority vote.
Prime Minister Abe Shinzo on July 17 announced his decision to replace the current plan to construct a new national athletic stadium, centerpiece of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, with a new one.
After receiving a third-party panel report acknowledging flaws in the former governor’s approval of a reclamation project for a new U.S. base in Henoko, Okinawa Governor Onaga Takeshi on July 16 said he will consider rescinding the approval.