Jun 28, 2012

Collusion on consumption tax hike

The Democratic Party of Japan together with the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito on Tuesday passed through the Lower House bills for the so-called unified reform of the tax and social security systems. In the voting for a bill to raise the consumption tax ...

Jun 25, 2012

Tasks for the extended Diet session

Because of a deal between the ruling Democratic Party of Japan and the opposition Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito, bills incorporating Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda’s plan to raise the consumption tax are likely to be passed by the end of the current Diet session, ...

Jun 2, 2012

Things that Mr. Noda should heed

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and former Democratic Party of Japan chief Ichiro Ozawa met on Wednesday to discuss Mr. Noda’s plan to raise the consumption tax from the current 5 percent to 8 percent from April 2014, and to 10 percent from October 2015. ...

May 21, 2012

True prosecution reform

In the trial of former Democratic Party of Japan chief Ichiro Ozawa, charged with conspiracy to falsify political fund reports, the Tokyo District Court said his testimony could not be trusted because it contained changes in time and other irregularities. (He was acquitted but ...

May 12, 2012

Questionable appeal in Ozawa case

On Wednesday three lawyers serving as prosecutors appealed a lower court ruling that had acquitted former Democratic Party of Japan chief Ichiro Ozawa of violating the Political Funds Control Law to the Tokyo High Court. On April 26, the Tokyo District Court found him ...

May 11, 2012

More than slogans needed

Former Democratic Party of Japan chief Ichiro Ozawa is likely to strengthen his political activities after his April 26 acquittal by the Tokyo District Court of a charge of conspiring with his secretaries to falsify reports of Rikuzankai, his political funds management body. Allthough ...

Apr 30, 2012

Smell of a power struggle in China

On March 15, it was announced that Mr. Bo Xilai was dismissed as Communist Party chief of the thriving southwestern Chinese metropolis of Chongqing. On April 10, it was reported that he was suspended from the Chinese Communist Party’s 25-member Politburo as well as ...

Apr 22, 2012

India extends its nuclear reach

While international attention has been focused on North Korea’s failed “satellite launch,” India last week successfully test-fired a missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead 5,000 km. This development has the potential to shift the regional strategic balance and introduce new uncertainties into Asia. ...

Mar 13, 2012

Put the political maneuvering aside

The Lower House on Thursday passed the ¥90.333 trillion fiscal 2012 budget with the support of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan and its coalition partner, the People’s New Party. But Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda cannot be optimistic about upcoming Diet business and must ...

Mar 6, 2012

Work for the public's well-being

During a debate in the Lower House last week, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and Mr. Sadakazu Tanigaki, chief of the opposition Liberal Democratic Party, appeared to have reached agreements on several issues. The ruling and opposition parties should use that momentum to break the ...

| Jan 30, 2012

Royal challenge awaits Noda

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda appears strongly committed to revising the Imperial Household Law to let female members of the Imperial family remain in the royal family even if they marry commoners. The Imperial family is the oldest royal family in the world and Chapter ...