Japan: questions to the Prime Minister and ministers in the budget committee
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The committee sits on 13 October from 9 am, Japan time. A hearing is not the adoption of a law.
In this article
Today’s political appointment
The House of Representatives’ official site announces the budget committee on 13 October at 9 am, Japan time. TBS broadcasts the general questions with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and all ministers present.
What subjects are announced?
According to TBS this morning, the opposition is to question the government on the effect and financing of a cut in the tax on food, as well as on Agriculture Minister Kazuo Yana’s remarks about budget cuts. These are the questions announced, not a summary of the answers or confirmation of a censure motion.
What is the committee for?
The committee questions the government in particular about the use of public money. The Japanese word “shitsugi” means questions and answers. Holding a hearing does not mean a law has been adopted.
In which session?
This is the extraordinary session of the 222nd Diet, announced from 5 October to 12 December. The House of Representatives is one of the two chambers of the Japanese Parliament.
Following from France
On 13 October, 9 am in Japan is 2 am in mainland France. If you are not following live, look for the date and committee in the official video library. Check answers and votes in the official documents.
Learn the grammar
French grammar
Learn sentence patterns and usage from the article’s own sentences.
01The present indicative
est / sont + attribute (noun, adjective, prepositional phrase)
La Chambre des représentants est l’une des deux chambres du Parlement japonais.Key pointsÊtre in the present is est for a singular subject and sont for a plural one. It describes nature, state or place (“is”, “is located”). If what follows (the attribute) is a noun, adjective or prepositional phrase, it is not a passive. If a past participle follows, it is a passive (est annoncé). Headlines and summaries often use the present to describe the current situation.
02The passive voice in the present
être (est / sont) + past participle (+ par / de)
Quels sujets sont annoncés ?Key pointsThe passive means “is done” or “is being done”. It is formed with être + past participle, which agrees with the subject in gender and number (la mesure est adoptée / les mesures sont adoptées). The agent is introduced by par (or de). In the news it is common when the event, rather than the actor, is the focus (est prévu / est annoncé / est connu).
03The passive in the passé composé
a / ont été + past participle
La tenue d’une audition ne signifie pas qu’une loi a été adoptée.Key pointsThe past passive means “was done”. Its form is present of avoir + été (past participle of être) + past participle. Été does not change, but the last participle agrees with the subject in gender and number (la loi a été votée / les textes ont été votés). It is frequent in news reporting results such as votes, decisions and announcements.
04The imperative
present vous form (-ez) / nous (-ons) / tu
Vérifiez les réponses et les votes dans les documents officiels.Key pointsThe imperative expresses commands, requests and advice. It has no subject: the sentence starts with the verb (Consultez les informations.). The vous form ends in -ez, nous in -ons (Restons prudents.), and tu in -e for -er verbs (Consulte). It is very common in notices and warnings (Vérifiez, Consultez, Restez informé).
05Pronominal verbs
se / s’ + verb
Il s’agit des questions annoncées, pas d’un bilan des réponses ni de la confirmation d’une motion de blâme.Key pointsA pronominal verb is used with a reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nous, vous) before the verb. It can mean “do to oneself”, “be done” or “do to each other”. In the news, se traduire (to result in), se tenir (to take place), s’agir de (to be a matter of) and se diffuser (to spread) are frequent. The pronoun changes with the subject (il se tient / ils se tiennent / je me souviens).
06Negation and its scope
ne / n’ … pas · ne … plus
Une audition ne vaut pas adoption d’une loi.Key pointsNormally ne and pas wrap the verb. Before a vowel, ne becomes n’. Check which part of the sentence the negation covers. Ne … plus means “no longer”.
07Citing a source with selon
selon + noun / organisation
Selon TBS ce matin, l’opposition doit interroger le gouvernement sur l’effet et le financement d’une baisse de TVA sur les aliments, ainsi que sur les propos du ministre de l’Agriculture Kazuo Yana concernant des réductions budgétaires.Key pointsSelon means “according to”. Put a person or organisation after it as the source. It separates facts the writer checked directly from what another body or report said. Citing a source does not turn a forecast into an accomplished fact.
08The construction il s’agit de
il s’agit de + noun / infinitive
Il s’agit des questions annoncées, pas d’un bilan des réponses ni de la confirmation d’une motion de blâme.Key pointsIt explains what something is about: “it is a matter of…”. The il is not a particular man but a formal subject of this construction. The negative il ne s’agit pas de means “this is not about…”.
09Dates and their prepositions
le + 日付 / du … au …
La commission siège le 13 octobre à partir de 9 h, heure japonaise.Key pointsLe 15 octobre means “on 15 October”. Distinguish the le before a date from the le that marks a weekly habit like a weekday. Du is de + le and au is à + le, so decide the meaning from the verb and period expressions around them. Their role depends on the group: a range of dates, the date of a bulletin or another complement.
Japanese grammar
Understand the structure and usage from the text.
01Plan, outlook and policy
〜の予定 / 〜見込み / 〜方針
これは質問の予定を伝えるもので、答弁の結論や問責決議の提出を確認したものではありません。Key points予定 is a plan, 見込み a forecast and 方針 a course of action or intention. None of them asserts that something has already been carried out. Note the difference from expressions such as “決まりました”.
02Polite negation and plain form
〜ではありません / 〜ではない
これは質問の予定を伝えるもので、答弁の結論や問責決議の提出を確認したものではありません。Key pointsThey negate a noun and similar content. “ではありません” is the polite form and “ではない” the plain form. “成立ではありません” shows that it cannot be said to have been concluded.
03Indicating the subject: について
noun + について
予算委員会は国のお金の使い方などについて政府に質問し、説明を求める場です。Key pointsAs in “予算について”, it shows the topic to be talked about or explained. In the form “〜についての報道”, の is added so that the group qualifies the following noun.
04Giving examples with など
noun / expression + など
予算委員会は国のお金の使い方などについて政府に質問し、説明を求める場です。Key points“暴言など” gives “abusive language” as one example. It is not necessarily a closed list of only the things named. It also helps when reading the scope of a news story.
05Treating a clause like a noun with こと
plain-form sentence + こと + particle
政府の説明を聞く質疑と、法案が成立することは別です。Key points“〜すること” treats an action or content like a noun. The particle after it (が・を・は…) shows its role in the sentence. “ことができる” is a fixed combination meaning “can”.
06Linking actions with the て-form
verb て-form + next expression
衆議院の公式中継サイトは、10月13日の予算委員会を午前9時から案内しています。Key pointsThe て-form links actions in a series, in order or as a reason. In “確認して、出発する” the relation is judged from the content. In “〜ている” it can show an action in progress or a continuing state.