Group 1 - The upcoming Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election is seen as a precursor to the national Diet's House of Councillors election, with voting scheduled for June 22 [2][4] - The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, is under scrutiny to maintain its seats in the Tokyo Assembly, as no party holds an absolute majority [4] - Recent polls indicate a rise in support for Abe, with one poll showing a 6% increase to 39% and another showing a 7% increase to 34%, up from around 20% previously [4] Group 2 - Approximately 300 candidates are contesting in the Tokyo Assembly election, marking the highest number in over 30 years [4] - The main issues in the election include rising prices, political scandals, and demographic challenges such as aging and declining birth rates [6] - The Consumer Price Index (CPI) in Japan rose by 3.5% year-on-year in April, exceeding the Bank of Japan's target of 2% [6] Group 3 - Abe has pledged to increase nominal GDP to 1,000 trillion yen by 2040 and aims for a 50% increase in average wages, requiring an annual growth rate of approximately 2.74% [8] - The LDP is considering cash handouts to citizens to alleviate the impact of rising prices [9] - The price of rice in Japan has doubled compared to the previous year, with the average price for a 5 kg bag reaching 4,223 yen [9] Group 4 - Japan's government is facing pressure from U.S. tariffs, with a significant decline in business confidence reported among large enterprises [11] - The confidence index for large companies dropped from 2.0 to -1.9 in the second quarter, with the manufacturing sector particularly affected [11] - The steel industry confidence index fell to -29.1, while the automotive sector index was at -16.1, indicating severe challenges [11]

Group 1 - The article discusses the upcoming Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election on June 22, which is seen as a precursor to the national Diet's House of Councillors election in July [2][4] - Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is under scrutiny as it seeks to maintain its seats in the assembly, with recent polls showing a rise in Ishiba's approval ratings [4][5] - The election features a record number of candidates, with approximately 300 participants, surpassing the previous high of 271 candidates in 2021 [4] Group 2 - Key issues in the election include rising prices, the political scandal involving the LDP, and the government's response to aging and declining birth rates [5] - Ishiba has pledged to increase nominal GDP to 1,000 trillion yen by 2040 and aims for a 50% increase in average wages, which requires an annual growth rate of approximately 2.74% [7] - The government is also considering cash handouts to citizens to alleviate the impact of rising prices, particularly in response to soaring rice prices [8] Group 3 - The article highlights the challenges posed by U.S. tariffs on Japanese exports, particularly in the manufacturing sector, which has seen a decline in business confidence [9] - The confidence index for large enterprises has dropped to negative territory, with significant declines in the steel and automotive industries due to U.S. trade policies [9]