Takaichi and Koizumi head to runoff in LDP leadership race
Former economic security minister Sanae Takaichi and agriculture minister Shinjiro Koizumi are headed to a runoff Saturday in…
Ruling bloc and Nippon Ishin affirm foreigners’ tuition-free ineligibility
The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), its ally Komeito and opposition Nippon Ishin no Kai on Friday confirmed a…
LDP Leadership Hopefuls, Take a Stand on North Korean Nuclearization
Lawmakers vying to lead the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) need to speak out about national security. So too…
The Blind Spot: US Liberal Bias and the Reality of Japanese Politics
My longtime acquaintance, Clyde Prestowitz, voiced his frustration that he could make no sense of Japanese politics by…
As Ishiba exits, is Japan doomed for ‘revolving door’ era of political instability?
When Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced on September 7 that he would step down after his party…
Japan’s LDP leadership race kicks off with 5 candidates
TOKYO — Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party officially launched its leadership election campaign on Monday, with five candidates…
Japan’s Buddhist-backed Komeito facing ‘existential crisis’ after bruising election defeat
Komeito, the Buddhist-backed political partner of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), is grappling with what it calls…
Ishiba to quit as prime minister amid LDP discontent
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced Sunday that he will resign amid growing calls from within the Liberal Democratic…
‘Japan First’ Sanseito threatens decades of one party dominance
In what would be a seismic political shock in an earthquake-prone country, Japan’s ruling bloc (consisting of the…
Polls open for key Upper House election that could shake Japanese politics
Voters headed to the polls Sunday for an Upper House election that could considerably alter the Japanese political…
What Japanese politics could look like after Upper House election
While Upper House elections are often regarded as a referendum on the incumbent administration, the July 20 vote…
Foreign nationals’ presence in Japan emerges as key issue in Upper House poll
The problems created by a record number of foreign nationals coming to Japan to visit, work and invest…