As Japan prepares for the special Diet session starting on the 18th, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is poised to implement strategies influenced by Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Sanae Takaichi. A significant political development is the appointment of Keiji Furuya, a close aide to the Prime Minister, as the head of the Constitutional Review Committee of the House of Representatives. This move is expected to expedite discussions on constitutional amendments, reflecting Takaichi's strong aspirations for reform that could change the political landscape in Japan.

The focus in the early days of the Diet will center on the 2026 initial budget proposal, a pivotal point for both the ruling and opposition parties. Kishida has emphasized the urgency of passing bills necessary by the end of the fiscal year, expressing a desire for collaborative efforts to ensure timely progress. Despite delays due to the House dissolution in January, which set discussions back by about a month, the government remains optimistic about securing the budget's passage, although public sentiment remains skeptical regarding the feasibility of these timelines amidst critiques of potential legislative overreach.

Debates and negotiations over important bills proposed by Takaichi, such as the establishment of a National Intelligence Agency, are expected to intensify as the session progresses. While the ruling party holds a supermajority, utilizing this numerical advantage may provoke accusations of undermining parliamentary integrity. The upcoming Diet session not only represents a critical moment for budget approval but also a turning point for Japan’s political discourse, with implications for national governance and constitutional evolution.