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| Foto:Ministry of Finance |
VISTORBELITUNG.COM,Tokyo – A series of crucial ministerial meetings are currently underway at the Ministry of Finance. Various ministers are visiting Finance Minister Shunichi Katayama to conduct final negotiations (大臣折衝) regarding budget allocations for their respective priority policies in the upcoming fiscal year 2026 (Reiwa 8).
These high-level discussions are a pivotal part of the annual budget formulation process, where cabinet members directly appeal to the finance minister for necessary funding. The negotiations focus on aligning the policy demands of each ministry with the government's overall fiscal strategy and constraints.
The photograph accompanying this release shows Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi (left) and Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Tetsuo Sasaki (right) entering the Ministry of Finance for their respective meetings with Finance Minister Katayama.
The foreign ministry is expected to be seeking robust funding for diplomatic and security initiatives, as well as official development assistance (ODA). Meanwhile, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is likely prioritizing budgets for disaster resilience projects, infrastructure maintenance, and transport-related policies.
Other ministers are scheduled for similar meetings in the coming days. The outcomes of these negotiations will significantly shape the draft budget proposal, which the government aims to finalize and submit to the ordinary Diet session next year. The process highlights the intense coordination required to balance national priorities with fiscal discipline.