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November 22, 2024
 

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Kenzo Uchida
COMMENTARY
Feb 19, 2002
Koizumi fast losing his luster
The entire affair involving Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's dismissal of Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka on Jan. 29 reminded me of an old saying that "nothing is predictable in politics." Following Koizumi's move, his government's public-approval rating plummeted to about 50 percent after remaining...
COMMENTARY
Feb 5, 2002
Aftershock risk to Koizumi
Late at night on Jan. 29, exactly nine months after the formation of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's government, a great seismic tremor struck the Japanese political landscape, as he dismissed Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka and Vice Foreign Minister Yoshiji Nogami, and forced Muneo Suzuki, a Liberal...
COMMENTARY
Jan 21, 2002
Rule out leadership change
At the beginning of 2002, the political situation in Japan appears relatively stable. Compared with 2001, which witnessed a series of radical changes, the new year is likely to see Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi pushing his reform plans ahead on the back of his huge popularity.
COMMENTARY
Dec 31, 2001
A challenging century ahead
The first year of the 21st century has been plagued by terror, confusion and instability. The Sept. 11 terror blitz in the United States changed long-standing perceptions about the world, civilization and war overnight. Toward the end of the year, the U.S.-led allied forces succeeded in their retaliatory...
COMMENTARY
Dec 17, 2001
Can Koizumi avoid Hosokawa's fate?
It has been nearly eight months since Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi took office, yet he remains hugely popular. Approval ratings for his administration are above 80 percent and show no sign of falling. How long will this continue?
COMMENTARY
Dec 1, 2001
No change in stormy economic outlook
Political and economic conditions at the end of November seem to be in a lull or stalemate both in Japan and abroad. But this is only a passing phenomenon. It may be the case that signs of turmoil and instability are only temporarily receding below the surface as the yearend and New Year approach.
COMMENTARY
Nov 21, 2001
LDP strife must end before it's too late
The entire world has undergone radical change since terrorists attacked New York and Washington on Sept. 11. Having identified Osama bin Laden as the mastermind of the attacks, the United States, with military cooperation from Britain, launched bombing raids against Afghanistan's Taliban regime in October....
COMMENTARY
Aug 11, 2001
Koizumi's easy days are over
With Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's major victory in the Upper House election on July 29, Japanese politics has entered into a new phase.
COMMENTARY
Jul 28, 2001
Policy priorities need balance
The nation goes to the polls Sunday for the Upper House election, which in essence is a battle between the coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and the New Conservative Party on the one hand and the opposition group of the Democrats, Liberals, Communists and Social Democrats on the...
COMMENTARY
Jul 17, 2001
Political parties prepare for judgment day
Political parties in Japan are in the midst of a campaign to lure voters in the July 29 Upper House contest. The election, officially called last Thursday, the first nationwide poll since Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's goverment was formed in late April, will be the first chance for the nation to...
COMMENTARY
Jun 30, 2001
Koizumi: a new type of leader
Two months have passed since the inauguration of the popular administration of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. Thanks to the prime minister's enormous popularity, the Liberal Democratic Party easily triumphed in this week's election for the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly, which was the first test for...
COMMENTARY
Jun 19, 2001
Three challenges for Koizumi
Approximately 50 days have passed since the Cabinet of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi was sworn in. Various opinion surveys have shown that its public approval ratings have climbed to nearly 90 percent from around 80 percent at the time of its birth, defying the usual pattern of approval rates declining...
COMMENTARY
Jun 4, 2001
Koizumi fever grips nation
Although more than a month has passed since the birth of the new administration of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, its approval rating still remains amazingly high at nearly 90 percent.
COMMENTARY
May 20, 2001
Koizumi honeymoon rolls on
Three weeks after its debut, the administration of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi continues to command high popularity. In opinion polls immediately after its inauguration April 26, the new administration received record approval ratings of over 80 percent. The "Koizumi boom" is likely to last for...
COMMENTARY
May 5, 2001
Koizumi tidal wave may crest
The past 10 days have been a tumultuous period in Japanese politics. I refer, of course, to the series of events from the resignation of former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori to the election of Junichiro Koizumi as Liberal Democratic Party president and prime minister and the inauguration of the Koizumi...
COMMENTARY
Apr 23, 2001
Signs of political upheaval on the horizon
A preliminary election tomorrow for the new president of the Liberal Democratic Party will decide how a total of 141 votes cast by representatives of the party's local blocs will be shared among the four candidates. Final results will be determined by the election in which 246 LDP Diet members will cast...
COMMENTARY
Apr 6, 2001
Few worthy leaders in LDP
Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori is expected to step down sometime this month, a year after he took office. Widely criticized for his alleged incompetence and lack of qualification for national leadership, Mori is sometimes called Japan's worst postwar prime minister. Even though Mori expressed his apparent...
COMMENTARY
Mar 24, 2001
Let the deal-making begin
Japanese politics is in a bizarre state of limbo. Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori on March 10 expressed his apparent intention to resign, when he said the governing Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election should be advanced from September, when they are originally scheduled. No date so far has been...
COMMENTARY / Japan
Mar 10, 2001
Timetable for a departure
On March 5, the Lower House voted down an opposition-sponsored no-confidence motion against the Cabinet of Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori. Theoretically, the apparent vote of confidence for the Mori Cabinet should have restored a semblance of political stability, but things do not work that way in Japanese...
COMMENTARY
Feb 23, 2001
Time running out for Mori
Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori's departure is inevitable, although he insists he has no intention of resigning. The questions are no longer if but when he will step down, and who will replace him.
Two of America’s biggest debt holders are dumping Treasurys
The U.S. Treasury building in Washington. Investors in Japan and China sold a pile of U.S. debt in the last quarter, just before the U.S. presidential election.
Russia launched intercontinental ballistic missile during attack on Ukraine, Kyiv says
A Yars intercontinental ballistic missile is launched during a test from the Plesetsk cosmodrome in Northern Arkhangelsk region of Russia, in this still image captured from video released on Oct. 29.
Ishiba aggravates his own political failures with diplomatic faux pas
Prime Minster Shigeru Ishiba is greeted at the APEC summit in Lima by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday. The Japanese leader was criticized for remaining seated while meeting several world leaders at the event.
Japan's 3.31 million visitors in October set monthly record
Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto in December 2023. Famous autumn leaf colors contributed to increased tourism demand last month from many markets across Asia, Europe and North America, the Japan National Tourism Organization has said.
Japan ranks last in romance satisfaction for second straight year
In a survey of 31 countries, Japan ranked last in terms of those who felt loved, with just 51% of respondents saying so.
Japan, U.K. and Italy discuss inviting more countries to joint fighter project
A new concept model of a next-generation fighter jet to be jointly developed by Japan, Britain and Italy is on display in Farnborough, Hampshire, in July.
Haruki Murakami's 'The City and Its Uncertain Walls' gives deep deja vu
For “The City and Its Uncertain Walls,” translated into English by Philip Gabriel, Haruki Murakami confronts the ghosts who won't leave him alone.
Japanese expats in Asia find community through rugby
The Taiwan Fivewoods celebrate their victory at the 2023 Asian Japanese Rugby Cup in December of last year.
In Fukushima, a weekend of prose, poetry and translation
Aomori-based writer JJ Carter presented on tabletop gaming as creative inspiration for building characters and narratives.
For Dr. Nakamats, aging is just experience in action
Though he didn't win the recent gubernatorial election in Tokyo, the 96-year-old Dr. Nakamats' run was seen as inspirational in Japan's aging society.

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By Kathryn Wortley

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