Japan's FY2027 budget requests hit record 143 trillion yen

Japan's fiscal year 2027 budget requests have reached a record high of approximately 143 trillion yen, marking a significant increase of over 20 trillion yen in a single year. This expansion is driven by the Takaichi administration's policy of 'responsible proactive fiscal policy' and substantial requests from various ministries.

Key departmental requests include 6.3 trillion yen from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and significant increases in public works funding from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. The Digital Agency and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare have also sought expanded budgets.

Public criticism has intensified regarding a proposed tenfold increase in the Cabinet Public Relations Office's budget, which is expected to rise from 700 million yen to 7.2 billion yen. Critics have expressed concerns over potential government propaganda, citing previous controversies involving highly produced promotional videos of disaster area visits.