Tag - ichiro-ozawa

 
 

ICHIRO OZAWA

Former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba reacts during a news conference ahead of the Liberal Democratic Party leadership election in Tokyo on Sept. 6.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Sep 24, 2024
Why is Shigeru Ishiba so unpopular among his LDP peers?
The former defense minister is highly regarded among the public and local chapters of the ruling party, but it's a different story when it comes to LDP lawmakers.
Ichiro Ozawa of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 10, 2024
Former CDP heavyweight Ozawa looks to replace Izumi in next leadership race
"We should pick the best suited person to wrest power," Ozawa said, reiterating his hopes to field a candidate other than Izumi for the leadership race.
The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan decides the schedule of its presidential race, in Tokyo on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 8, 2024
CDP presidential election in September puts party future in focus
Key questions surrounding the election start with the issue of what the CDP's relationship should be with the Japanese Communist Party.
When Renho (center) announced her candidacy for the Tokyo gubernatorial election on May 27, the head of the Japanese Communist Party's secretariat, Akira Koike (far left), was also in attendance.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Jul 17, 2024
Cutting ties with JCP not easy for CDP despite Renho's defeat
Despite calls to end the relationship, there is still pressure on the CDP to seek interparty cooperation to avoid splitting the opposition vote.
Ichiro Ozawa (third from right) with other members of parliament at a ceremony to launch a new party in Tokyo in July 2012.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 15, 2023
Ichiro Ozawa is once again looking for a way to defeat the LDP
The octogenarian political veteran is looking to cap his long career with another successful drive to defeat the ruling LDP at the polls.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 3, 2023
With Naoto Kan's exit from the CDP, some see a generational shift
The exit of the former prime minister, a high-profile figure and political veteran from the CDP’s liberal wing, comes at a time of change for the party.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 19, 2023
CDP's Ichiro Ozawa bracing for 'final battle' in next election
The veteran politician still hopes the country will achieve a genuine two-party parliamentary democracy.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 1, 2021
Big-name Japanese politicians chopped down to size in Lower House poll
Sunday's election saw a number of well-known lawmakers lose in their districts, with a handful regaining seats in the lower chamber via the proportional representation system.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 1, 2021
Shadow of a shogun: Ichiro Ozawa loses in district for first time
The onetime 'shadow shogun,' a skilled strategist and political operator, was arguably Japan's most consequential and divisive politician during the Heisei Era.
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 15, 2020
For Japan's new Constitutional Democratic Party, the hard work starts now
As the largest opposition party formally kicks off it faces no shortage of challenges, including corralling established figures not accustomed to being on the same side.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal / LAW OF THE LAND
Jun 18, 2020
Much ado about retirement ages and Japan's politicized bureaucracy
The scandal surrounding top prosecutor Hiromu Kurokawa has kicked off a debate on retirement ages and interference in Japan's civil service.
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Apr 30, 2020
LDP secretary-general: The power behind the PM
Those in the position are de facto the most powerful person within the party after its president.
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Feb 23, 2020
The Japanese Communist Party's quest to unify a shattered opposition
Last month, for the first time in 16 years, the Japanese Communist Party met to revise its basic political program. Part of the reason was that the party hopes a change of rhetoric, at least, will make it easier to form an opposition coalition to challenge the Liberal Democratic Party-Komeito ruling...
JAPAN / History / Heisei Icons
Feb 19, 2019
Ichiro Ozawa: The kingmaker and destroyer in Japanese politics
Reformer, kingmaker, shadow shogun, destroyer. With so many labels, no politician stands out like Ichiro Ozawa among Japan's conformist legislators.
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 24, 2019
Ichiro Ozawa may be on verge of comeback as Japan's DPP and Liberal parties form joint Diet group
One of Japan's most influential and divisive political figures in recent decades may be staging another comeback.
COMMUNITY / Issues
Dec 4, 2016
Japan's Board of Audit: unlikely guardians of the Constitution?
On Nov. 7, an annual ritual of government occurred: The Board of Audit delivered its report on the results of its audit of government accounts for the previous fiscal year (April 1, 2015, to March 31, 2016) to the Cabinet. The 1,123-page paper brick handed over to His Abe-ness identified billions of...
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 13, 2016
Liberal Party is reborn in Seikatsu no To rebranding ahead of possible election
Seikatsu no To (People's Life Party) has rebranded itself as the Liberal Party, adopting the name of a recently defunct conservative party in a bid to lure right-of-center voters away from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
COMMENTARY / COUNTERPOINT
Jan 24, 2015
Can the DPJ reinvigorate Japanese democracy?
Columbia University's Gerald Curtis recently wrote, "It is a sad commentary on Japan's politics that after nearly 70 years of democracy a competitive party system has all but disintegrated."

Longform

Visitors to Kyoto walk along a street near Kiyomizu Temple in April. A popular tourist spot, Kyoto has seen what locals feel to be an overwhelming amount of tourists in 2024.
Is Japan ready for 60 million tourists?