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November 21, 2024
 

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Eric Johnston

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Eric Johnston
Shigeru Ishiba holds a news conference in Tokyo on Friday after winning the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election.
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 29, 2024
Ishiba hints at general election in late October as he starts to form Cabinet
Media reports said that preparations were underway for a snap general election to be held on Oct. 27.
Former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba waves after he was elected as the new head of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party during a leadership vote on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 27, 2024
Fifth time's a charm: Shigeru Ishiba set to be Japan PM after LDP poll win
Ishiba, who has also served as party secretary-general, won the LDP presidential election on Friday, defeating economic security minister Sanae Takaichi in a runoff vote.
A poster showing portraits of candidates for the Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election at the party headquarters in Tokyo on Wednesday
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 27, 2024
Takaichi and Ishiba head to runoff in LDP leadership election
Ishiba, 67, and Takaichi, 63, emerged as the top picks in a crowded field of nine in the race that will decide the country’s next prime minister
Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan President Yoshihiko Noda (right) and Nippon Ishin no Kai leader Nobuyuki Baba in Tokyo on Tuesday
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 26, 2024
CDP's Noda wants to court Nippon Ishin and DPP, but will he succeed?
The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan's new leader faces an uphill task of bridging the differences of its peers in the opposition ahead of a general election.
Former Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda attends a news conference after being elected as the new leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan on Monday in Tokyo.
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 23, 2024
Former PM Yoshihiko Noda elected new leader of main opposition CDP
The win puts him on track for a showdown with a new leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in a general election likely to be held sooner rather than later.
Caption TK
JAPAN / Society / Regional Voices: Hokkaido
Sep 23, 2024
Hokkaido seeks to grow market for scallops in the U.S. — and beyond
China's refusal to budge from its ban on Japanese seafood forces local officials to look elsewhere.
Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan presidential candidates Harumi Yoshida (far left), Kenta Izumi (center left), Yukio Edano (center right) and Yoshihiko Noda pose at a news conference in Tokyo on Sept. 7.
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 20, 2024
CDP leader hopefuls must bridge internal and external differences
Once elected, the leader of the main opposition party must both unify the different groups within and choose who to work with to win the next general election.
Former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, the 43-year-old son of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, announces his candidacy for the Liberal Democratic Party presidency in Tokyo on Sept. 6.
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 20, 2024
The second act of the Koizumi theater
Former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi’s style and rhetoric echo those of his father, but there are key differences between the two men.
Candidates for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election take part in a debate in Tokyo on Saturday. Of the nine candidates, three — Takayuki Kobayashi, Taro Kono, and Shigeru Ishiba — have been particularly vocal with their views on the country's energy strategy.
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 19, 2024
LDP presidential hopefuls face tough choices on Japan's energy future
Candidates must decide what role nuclear power will play in the government's long-term energy strategy.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks at the Liberal Democratic Party headquarters in Tokyo in January as former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga (left) looks on.
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 16, 2024
In LDP presidential poll, three kingmakers hold all the cards
The decisions of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, his predecessor Yoshihide Suga and LDP Vice President Taro Aso will heavily influence the result.
(From left) Economic security minister Sanae Takaichi, former economic security minister Takayuki Kobayashi, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, former Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato, digital minister Taro Kono, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Liberal Democratic Party Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi pose for photographs at the ruling party's headquarters in Tokyo on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 13, 2024
LDP presidential candidates field questions on political reform and economy
At their first joint news conference after the start of campaigning, they gave their views on party and political reform and argued for a strong economic strategy.
Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori died Wednesday in Lima at age 86.
WORLD / Politics
Sep 12, 2024
Peruvian strongman Alberto Fujimori dies at age 86
The disgraced former president had deep connections to Japan, where he lived for several years to avoid extradition back to his home country over corruption charges.
Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa announces her candidacy in the Liberal Democratic Party presidential election in Tokyo on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 11, 2024
Yoko Kamikawa banks on overseas experience in LDP leadership race
Her candidacy could increase attention on foreign policy questions in a race so far dominated by party reform and domestic economic issues.
Komeito leader Natsuo Yamaguchi announces his decision not to seek reelection in his party's Sept. 28 presidential election, in Tokyo on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 10, 2024
Komeito leader Natsuo Yamaguchi announces decision to step down
The decision not to seek reelection marks the end of an era for the party and raises questions on how it might impact the LDP's presidential race.
Economic security minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during a news conference in Tokyo on Monday.
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 9, 2024
Sanae Takaichi unveils LDP president bid with call for party's rebirth
In an announcement laden with detailed policy proposals, the economic security minister says the party needs to be “reborn” in the wake of its slush funds scandal.
Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan head Kenta Izumi announces he will run for reelection as party leader in Tokyo on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 6, 2024
Views on interparty cooperation set CDP leader candidates apart
Kenta Izumi, Yukio Edano and Yoshihiko Noda have all outlined different ideas on working with the Japanese Communist Party and Nippon Ishin no Kai.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi announces his candidacy in the Liberal Democratic Party presidential election in Tokyo on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 3, 2024
Yoshimasa Hayashi announces candidacy in LDP leadership race
The chief cabinet secretary has proposed a new independent agency to regulate the financing of electoral campaigns.
Digital minister Taro Kono announces his intention to run in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election during a news conference in Tokyo on Monday.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Aug 30, 2024
Is Kono, the only faction-backed candidate to lead LDP, still a maverick?
It's unclear whether his recent call for the return of slush funds pocketed by former faction members represents his true beliefs or a strategic move.
Nippon Ishin no Kai head Nobuyuki Baba (left) and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida discuss political reform in Tokyo in May.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Aug 28, 2024
Hyogo governor's scandal could spell more trouble for Nippon Ishin
The party, still reeling from a mayoral election loss, gave its backing to Hyogo Gov. Motohiko Saito in his 2021 gubernatorial bid.
Digital minister Taro Kono speaks during a news conference to announce his candidacy in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election in Tokyo on Monday.
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 26, 2024
Taro Kono joins contest for LDP presidency
Touting his international credentials, the digital minister put economic reform at the top of his agenda, pledging to cut publicly funded projects that are ineffective.
Ishiba delays meeting with Trump, citing legal restrictions
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba waves upon arrival for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, in Callao, Peru, on Friday.
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.
Rising sex tourism exposes loopholes in Japan's anti-prostitution law
While financial misfortunes during the COVID-19 pandemic may have driven some women to work the streets, others simply want more money to spend — or want to pay off their debts — at host clubs.
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.
Ruling coalition and DPP strike last-minute deal over economic policy
DPP policy chief Makoto Mahaguchi speaks at the party's policy gathering in Tokyo on Wednesday.
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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