Japan's lower house approved a historic ¥122.31 trillion ($769 billion) budget for fiscal 2026 on Friday, sparking heated debates about government transparency and military spending priorities. The ruling coalition pushed through the bill despite opposition claims of "highly abnormal" parliamentary tactics 🚨.
Key numbers catching eyes 👀: – Defense budget hits ¥9+ trillion for first time – Total spending up 4% from 2025 – Deliberation time slashed to 59 hours (shortest since 2000)
Opposition leaders slammed the rushed process: 🗣️ "This reflects Prime Minister Takaichi's arrogance" – Junya Ogawa, Centrist Reform Alliance 🗣️ "Power politics overriding public interest" – Tomoko Tamura, Japanese Communist Party
The budget now moves to the upper house where the ruling bloc lacks majority control. Political analysts predict intense negotiations ahead of the April 1 fiscal year start date 📅.
Kyodo News warns this speed-run approach undermines "the public's right to understand policy decisions" through proper debate. With Japan's debt-to-GDP ratio already at 260%, critics question if this budget addresses real needs or fuels financial risks 💹.
