July 25 & 26, 2026

The 221st special session of the Diet effectively ended on July 24 after the controversial bill to create a “secondary capital” was approved and enacted with 123 votes in favor and 121 against in the House of Councillors plenary session.

Political parties which voted against the bill included the Japanese Communist Party, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, the Democratic Party for the People, the “Komeito” party, the “Reiwa” party, and the Social Democratic Party. Along with the ruling Liberal Democratic and “Nippon Ishin no Kai” parties, the “Team Mirai” party and some independents supported the bill.

The government led by Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae unilaterally extended the special Diet session by a week in order to begin deliberations on the bill sponsored by the LDP and its coalition partner Ishin.

During Diet deliberations, the JCP, criticizing the bill as being designed by the Ishin party to serve its own interests, claimed that the Ishin party aims to realize its “Osaka metropolis plan” which had been rejected twice in local referendums, with the designation of Osaka as a “second capital”.

On this day, the JCP held its Dietmembers’ general assembly in the Diet building. JCP Executive Committee Chair Tamura Tomoko in her speech condemned the Takaichi government, composed of the LDP and the Ishin, for forcibly introducing and enacting the “sub-capital” bill and other constitutionally questionable bills on the grounds of the LDP-Ishin coalition agreement. She also passed judgement on PM Takaichi by saying that Takaichi frequently refused to attend Diet meetings and failed to fulfill her pledge for accountability.

Tamura pointed out that although the Takaichi government looks like it can do whatever it wants, it has reached an impasse. At the same time, she said that the JCP lawmakers’ efforts grounded in constitutional principles have attracted more and more public trust and support and given encouragement to citizens’ movements, adding, “Let us work hard to put an end to the Takaichi government and the LDP-Ishin coalition which do not understand even the basic and fundamental requirements of maintaining a democracy.

Past related article:
> True intent of ‘Ishin’ behind sub-capital bill is large development projects [July 21, 2026]
> Takaichi gov’t extends Diet session solely to enact ‘2nd capital city’ bill [July 18, 2026]