Overview
- Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told the Lower House on Thursday she will not rule out asking the public to save electricity or cut use if energy pressures worsen.
- The government created an inter-agency team Thursday to review stocks of oil products and plastic-based medical items and to identify risks to steady supply.
- Negotiators from the Liberal Democratic Party and the Constitutional Democratic Party agreed Thursday to hold a concentrated Upper House budget committee session on April 6 and to request the prime minister’s attendance.
- Defense planners are studying low-cost guided missiles built with civilian parts and paired with long-range attack drones, a concept reported Wednesday that remains under consideration for inclusion in year-end security documents.
- Mizuho Bank chief Katsuhiko Kato took over as Japan Bankers Association president Wednesday and said he will push lending based on business potential as a new pro–business-lending law takes effect in May.