This morning, GR Japan's Senior Adviser Dr. Llewelyn Hughes presented a study predicting that the governing coalition will secure a stable majority in the upcoming election. The Liberal Democractic Party (LDP) and the New Komeito Party (Komeito) coalition is expected to win 136 seats in total, with the LDP taking 67 and the Komeito 10 seats.

On July 6 and 7, the Asahi Shimbun conducted a second survey (telephone) in regards to the House of Councillors election. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) topped the list at 41% (the first survey conducted on June 29 and 30 indicated 44%) of proportional representation votes, followed by the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) at 8% (same as last survey), the Japan Restoration Party at 7% (same as last survey), Your Party at 7% (same as last survey) and the Japanese Communist Party with 5% (same as last survey).

At a meeting of GR Japan's International Policy Forum on 20 May, Japan's Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry, Masaaki Taira, addressed an audience of business leaders on the Abe government's growth strategy for Japan. New measures include limiting the scope of directors' liability, protecting SMEs from large companies, cutting corporation tax, easing consumer finance regulations to expand the availability of credit and lifting the current ban on casinos and integrated resorts.

Japan is going to adapt European Union automotive safety and environmental standards according to an article in Nikkei Shimbun this morning. Under the new rules to be negotiated under trade talks starting next week, manufacturer having cleared market entry tests in one market would (automatically) be granted access to the other.