Tag - hakubun-shimomura

 
 

HAKUBUN SHIMOMURA

Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Hakubun Shimomura attends a Lower House ethics committee meeting in Tokyo on Monday.
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 18, 2024
Shimomura testimony fails to shed light on LDP funds scandal
Former Liberal Democratic Party policy chief Hakubun Shimomura had hinted that he would finally provide some answers to key questions.
There are growing calls within the LDP to query former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori (left) over his possible involvement in the scandal. While Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has said that the party would discuss hearing directly from those involved, he did not offer specific examples of who he had in mind.
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 15, 2024
Shimomura to testify amid growing calls to query Mori over funds scandal
The former LDP policy chief's testimony before an ethics committee could pressure the ex-PM to disclose what he knows about the kickback scheme.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Aug 5, 2022
Lawmaker says he feels responsible over Unification Church name change
Hakubun Shimomura was education minister when the Cultural Affairs Agency, an education ministry arm, approved in 2015 the name change for the group.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Sep 4, 2021
Suga's abrupt exit throws LDP race wide open
With Sugau2019s withdrawal from the race, a significant obstacle has been removed for leading LDP hopefuls to enter the contest.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / EXPLAINER
Aug 27, 2021
Off to the races: LDP presidential election campaign begins
A number of challengers to Suga are beginning to emerge, with Fumio Kishida currently being the prime minister's strongest rival.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 26, 2021
Fumio Kishida enters LDP leadership race as party sets voting plan
The former foreign minister has some advantages over potential candidates, but he would need the backing of Shinzo Abe and Taro Aso to stand a real chance.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Aug 26, 2021
LDP leadership election: Suga has a target on his back
As LDP heavyweights jockey for position ahead of the party's presidential election, one thing for sure is there is a target on Prime Minister Sugau2019s back.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Aug 25, 2021
As his appeal wanes, can Suga be more than a caretaker prime minister?
Setbacks in by-elections, a lack of a political boost from the Olympics and criticism of his demeanor have put Suga on the back foot as he heads into an LDP presidential race.
Japan Times
JAPAN / ANALYSIS
Aug 23, 2021
Loss by Suga ally in Yokohama election rattles the LDP
The prime minister's position has become even more precarious, with questions growing within the LDP over whether he should lead the party into an upcoming general election.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Aug 5, 2021
Explosive COVID-19 surge rekindles debate over lockdowns in Japan
The idea of harsher restrictions and penalties has become a political football, with conservatives arguing constitutional revision is needed to enhance the government's powers.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Aug 2, 2021
Japan's ruling party policy chief seeks Diet debate on virus lockdown
A Japanese law covering measures against the novel coronavirus states that restrictions on individual rights must be kept to a minimum, however.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Feb 5, 2021
Budget talks overshadowed as more issues pile up for Suga
There is mounting pressure on the prime minister on issues ranging from a potential ethics violation involving a family member to sexist remarks by the Tokyo Games chair.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 24, 2020
Japan weighs ¥10 trillion extra budget to counter coronavirus, report says
The government may extend a domestic travel subsidy system but is unlikely to offer more direct cash handouts to households, the newspaper reported.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Oct 10, 2020
Japan may need to consider compiling third extra budget, senior LDP lawmaker says
Japan may need to consider compiling another extra budget to help its economy if the current reserve fund is not enough to respond to the coronavirus pandemic, a senior Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker said.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 11, 2019
Abe shakes up LDP leadership, but retains key party heavyweights
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday appointed Olympics minister Shunichi Suzuki as chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party's General Council in a shake-up of the party leadership.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 24, 2018
Veteran LDP lawmaker's remarks on sexual harassment case blasted by Komeito head
The partyu2019s leader called remarks made by ex-education minister Hakubun Shimomura u201cutterly incomprehensible,u201d after the lawmaker criticized a journalist that made allegations against a top bureaucrat.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Jul 15, 2017
Fundraising loopholes, a political norm
The Liberal Democratic Party lost a large number of seats to Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike's upstart Tomin First Party in the Tokyo assembly election. Media surveys reveal that the public is dismayed by recent scandals involving the LDP, in particular the one surrounding educational company Kake Gakuen, which may have received special attention from LDP bigwigs in approving the company's new veterinary department. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is reportedly a close friend of Kake's chairman.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 29, 2017
Ex-education minister Shimomura denies media report claiming undeclared Kake donations
Shimomura responds to a Shukan Bunshun report that he allegedly received u00a52 million in undisclosed payments from scandal-tainted school operator.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 22, 2017
LDP lawmakers take to the kitchen to promote female workplace empowerment
From veterans to rookies, male lawmakers from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party sliced tomatoes, grilled salmon and fried chicken as they exemplified ways in which husbands can share in household duties during a political event on Wednesday promoting female participation in the workplace.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / COUNTERPOINT
Sep 26, 2015
Abe government targets the liberal arts
Over the past several weeks I have received many emails from all over the world asking me if reports about government plans to pull the plug on humanities and social sciences departments at Japanese national universities are accurate or just a bad joke. At this point it's not clear exactly what the government intends.

Longform

A statue of "Dragon Ball" character Goku stands outside the offices of Bandai Namco in Tokyo. The figure is now as recognizable as such characters as Mickey Mouse and Spider-Man.
Akira Toriyama's gift to the world