The Prime Minister in Action in February 2026

On February 8, 2026, Prime Minister Takaichi made a congratulatory call to Mr. KIMURA Kira, an Olympic snowboarder who won a gold medal at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games.

On February 7, 2026, Prime Minister Takaichi attended the 2026 National Rally to Demand the Return of the Northern Territories held in Tokyo. The Prime Minister stated in her address: “I would like to offer a few words on the occasion of the 2026 National Rally to Demand the Return of the Northern Territories. On this day, Northern Territories Day, I believe it is deeply meaningful that this conference is being held with participants gathered together. I would like to express my heartfelt respect and gratitude to all of you present here today, to those watching this event online, and to all those across the country who work tirelessly each day toward the resolution of the Northern Territories issue. It is deeply regrettable and truly unfortunate that, even now—80 years after the end of World War II—the Northern Territories issue remains unresolved between Japan and Russia and that a peace treaty has yet to be concluded. The Government of Japan takes this situation very seriously. Due to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, Japan-Russia relations are currently strained. However, the Japanese Government remains unchanged in its policy of resolving the issue of the attribution of the Four Northern Islands and concluding a peace treaty. The Government will tirelessly seek to communicate with the Russian side. I myself once visited Cape Nosappu as Minister of State for Northern Territories Affairs and observed the Northern Territories from there. I also listened directly to former island residents and other stakeholders, who spoke of the hardships they endured after being forced to leave their hometowns and of their earnest desire for the return of the Northern Territories. Through these experiences, I came to feel keenly the severe circumstances facing the areas adjacent to the Northern Territories. Furthermore, on December 1 last year, we received requests from Hokkaido Prefecture and municipalities in areas adjacent to the Northern Territories, including requests for the early resumption of visits to ancestral graves in the Northern Territories. Given the earnest feelings of the former island residents, many of whom are now advanced in age, the resumption of these grave visits is a profoundly humanitarian issue and one of the highest priorities in Japan–Russia relations. As the Government of Japan, we will continue to make persistent efforts to urge the Russian side to resume these visits. The Northern Territories issue is an issue for the entire nation, and it is essential that the people of Japan act together as one. It is also important that Japan’s position be correctly understood by the international community. As the Government of Japan, we will continue to engage broadly in efforts to raise public awareness and to disseminate information internationally. Let me conclude my remarks by reiterating my sincere request for the strong support of the people.”

On February 5, 2026, Prime Minister Takaichi received a courtesy call from Dr. C. C. Wei, Chairman and CEO of TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company), at the Prime Minister’s Office.

On February 3, 2026, Prime Minister Takaichi held a meeting with the Rt. Hon. Mr. Ramchandra Paudel, President of Nepal, at the Prime Minister’s Office.

On February 3, 2026, Prime Minister Takaichi held a Ministerial Meeting on the Heavy Snow that began on January 21 at the Prime Minister’s Office.