Politics
Kishida sends ritual offering to Yasukuni Shrine
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Sunday sent a ritual offering to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine that honors war dead and is seen by neighboring countries as a symbol of Tokyo's past militarism. Kishida sent the masakaki tree offering under his name as prime minister to celebrate the shrine's biannual festival… Read
Kishida visits areas hit by 2011 disaster for 1st time as PM
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Saturday visited Japan's northeastern region for the first time since taking office to check on the progress of reconstruction in areas devastated by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Kishida, who became prime minister earlier this month, offered flowers and prayed at a tsunami memorial… Read
How members of Japan's House of Representatives are elected
The following is an explanation of how members of Japan's House of Representatives will be elected on Oct 31. The number of lower house seats is 465, and 289 are elected from single-seat districts and the remaining 176 through proportional representation in 11 regional blocks. Each voter casts two ballots… Read
Japan, S Korea leaders look to deepen ties, despite strains
The leaders of Japan and South Korea spoke by phone on Friday, saying they would look to deepen ties in the face of regional security threats, despite badly strained bilateral relations. Although they share a key ally in the U.S. and common concerns over facing China, ties between Tokyo and… Read
Komeito chief casts doubt on LDP's plan to increase defense spending
The leader of Komeito, the smaller coalition partner of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, voiced doubt Friday over the LDP's plan to increase defense spending, possibly above 2 percent of gross domestic product. "As the birth rate declines and the population ages, we will need to put more resources toward… Read
Kishida says only LDP capable of protecting Japan from security threats
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Thursday sought to depict his governing party as the only one capable of protecting Japan from the security threats in the region. Speaking with reporters after he dissolved the lower house of the Diet, paving the way for elections on Oct 31, Kishida said: "Opposition… Read
Opposition parties unite in bid to break LDP's grip on power
Opposition parties in Japan are banding together for the Oct 31 general election in a bid to break the near-monopoly on power the Liberal Democratic Party, led by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, has held for the past six decades. The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, the Japanese Communist Party and… Read
Pandemic-hit voters hope for brighter days as general election looms
People whose lives have been upended by the coronavirus said Thursday they are hoping for government policies that improve work conditions and bring business back to pre-pandemic levels as Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida dissolved the House of Representatives for an Oct 31 general election. Medical and elderly care workers… Read
Kishida dissolves lower house for Oct 31 national election
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida dissolved the lower house of the Diet on Thursday, paving the way for elections on Oct 31. At stake will be how Japan faces a potential coronavirus resurgence and revives its battered economy, and if or how Kishida's government can leave the shadow of the nearly… Read
Main opposition party pledges to achieve growth by reducing inequality, poverty
The main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan unveiled its campaign platform Wednesday for the general election this month, pledging to achieve economic growth by reducing inequality and poverty. Underscoring the need to distribute wealth, the CDPJ is aiming to allocate a substantial budget for medical care, education and other… Read
