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July 06, 2025
 

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2023 LOCAL ELECTIONS

Gold badges distributed to Fukuoka Prefectural Assembly members after the April 2023 election. The prices for both types doubled from four years ago.
JAPAN / Politics / Regional Voices: Kyushu
Feb 19, 2024
Gold assembly badges worth millions of yen unreturned in Kyushu
Each elected member receives a new badge for every election and is supposed to return them on losing an election or retiring from politics.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Jun 20, 2023
LDP power struggle in Yamaguchi shows waning influence of Abe faction
With Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi having been selected for the new No. 3 district, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's caucus has come out on top over the Abe faction.
JAPAN / FOCUS
May 24, 2023
Japan's political parties prepare as talk of snap election heats up
While Prime Minister Fumio Kishida may or may not call a snap election now that the G7 summit is over, that uncertainty isn't stopping political parties from planning their next moves.
Japan Times
JAPAN / FOCUS
May 15, 2023
Uzbekistan-born lawmaker looks to turn love of Japan into social change
Orzugul, who was recently elected to a seat in the Setagaya Ward Assembly, is looking to use it to address concerns of marginalized groups — issues she is all too familiar with.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
May 2, 2023
Chiba Prefecture woman arrested over Twitter threat to release sarin
Miyuki Yamamoto, who ran unsuccessfully for the Funabashi Municipal Assembly last month, was arrested on suspicion of obstructing business with fraudulent information.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 28, 2023
A small Japanese town sets new precedent for women in politics
Among the country’s city councils and assemblies, men held more than 80% of the total seats as of 2021. But in Ebetsu, more than 40% of the city council members are women.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Apr 25, 2023
Japan’s political landscape after the unified elections
The ruling LDP and its junior coalition partner saw most of their candidates succeed across the country in Sunday's unified elections. The exception is where Nippon Ishin no Kai surged.
JAPAN
Apr 25, 2023
Ashiya's new mayor stands out in a local politics dominated by old men
Ryosuke Takashima has grabbed headlines since becoming the youngest city chief ever elected in Japan.
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Apr 24, 2023
Kishida rules out snap poll after LDP wins big in Sunday by-elections
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party received a welcome boost Sunday night as four of five LDP-affiliated or supported candidates won key parliamentary by-elections.
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 20, 2023
Voter reaction to attack on Kishida could impact Sunday by-elections
How the ruling party performs is expected to influence Kishida’s decision on whether to call a snap election in the coming months.
Japan Times
JAPAN / FOCUS
Apr 20, 2023
Despite hurdles, more political candidates hit campaign trail with young children
Politics in Japan has long been considered the domain of those who are capable of committing to the duty 24/7, marginalizing the voices of families with young children.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 19, 2023
Attack against Kishida prompts debate over election campaign events
Still, top LDP lawmakers have reiterated the importance of outdoor campaigning even for big-name politicians, expressing their hesitation to move such speeches indoors.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Apr 18, 2023
Why left-wing parties in Japan are failing to attract young voters
While liberal youths overseas have been able to find their way into politics, in Japan, forces on the left like the Japanese Communist Party have largely been unable to garner support.
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 16, 2023
Campaigning starts for second half of Japan's unified polls
The official campaign period has kicked off for the second half of Japan's unified local elections slated for April 23.
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 15, 2023
Police probe explosives attack as Kishida returns to election rallies
A suspect is in custody after a cylindrical object landed 1 meter from the prime minister, who was evacuated before the device exploded.
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 10, 2023
The by-elections that could determine Kishida's snap election call
The April 23 votes could determine whether the prime minister heads into next month’s G7 summit with clear political skies, or under a cloud with party rivals grumbling about his leadership.
JAPAN / Politics / Regional Voices: Kyushu
Apr 10, 2023
Harassment of women in politics is rampant in Kyushu, survey finds
The text-based survey found that more than half of the 145 female members of prefectural and municipal assemblies surveyed had experienced some form of harassment in their work.
JAPAN
Apr 10, 2023
Majority of Sapporo voters oppose 2030 Winter Olympics bid, exit poll shows
In the Sapporo election, held as part of the first round of unified local elections, the incumbent mayor aiming to host the 2030 Games defeated his two rivals opposing the idea.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Apr 3, 2023
Rising number of uncontested seats in Japan sparks calls for change
A quarter of candidates in 41 prefectural assembly elections ran unopposed — the second highest ever — prompting even the winners to call for reforms.
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 31, 2023
Campaigning kicks off for Japanese local elections
Key campaign issues include child-rearing support, soaring prices and support for regional economies.
Japan braces for more quakes as authorities dismiss doomsday hype
Evacuees from Akuseki Island, located in the Tokara island chain in Kagoshima Prefecuture, arrive at Kagoshima Port on Friday.
Hidden AI prompts in academic papers spark concern about research integrity
Waseda University is one of 14 institutions in eight countries found to have used hidden prompts in research papers.
A prophesied disaster (likely) won’t strike Japan this weekend
A viral manga prediction of a July 5 disaster has gripped Japan with anxiety and triggered an economic impact, but experts warn that while such dates are unreliable, the threat of a massive earthquake remains real. 
Residents of Tokara Islands begin evacuation as seismic swarm continues
Details about evacuations from Akuseki Island, located in the Tokara island chain in Kagoshima Prefecture, is seen written on a whiteboard in the city of Kagoshima on Thursday.
U.S. military apologizes over Okinawa sexual assault case
Col. Neil Owens (right), chief of staff for the 3rd Marine Division, bows in apology at the Okinawa Prefectural Government office in Naha on Thursday.
Ghibli’s Isao Takahata exhibit shows how beloved anime is made
“The man who planted Japanese animation” exhibition includes a variety of sketches, drawings and animation cels from Isao Takahata films such as color design for characters by Michiyo Yasuda from "Grave of the Fireflies."
Flag football facing challenges and opportunities ahead
Japan’s women’s flag football team at the 2025 International Bowl in Los Angeles in June. The sport is enjoying continued growth in the country.
From Hokusai’s Great Wave, shinkansen to One Piece: a cultural treasure box for Lego Japan
Michael Ebbesen, general manager of Lego Japan, says Lego bricks based on Japanese culture have a rich global appeal and are sellable around the world.
With farmed fish, RelationFish swims against the tide in fine dining
Chef Hideaki Matsuo (middle) and the staff of Oseto Suisan Fisheries prepare to check on their sustainably farmed fish.
As Southeast Asia heats up, a Japanese cooling giant sees a major opportunity
An employee of Daikin Cambodia explains the use of different tools during an air conditioner installation training session in Phnom Penh. Daikin is one of Japan’s oldest air conditioning companies, but as Japan’s population falls, the firm is keying in on overseas growth.

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One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
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