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Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Nov 9, 2021

Kishida's top diplomat pick highlights growing confidence

Kishida picking Yoshimasa Hayashi to be the foreign minister was a great choice for him. Had Hayashi and others not pushed Kishida, he may not have sought the country's top leadership job.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Nov 9, 2021

Amid leadership change, CDP asks itself deep questions about its future

The next leader will need to wrestle with how to best communicate a positive vision for Japan and what to do about cooperation with the Japanese Communist Party.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 4, 2021

LDP backs Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi for party’s No. 2 role

The choice of Motegi as secretary-general underscores Kishida's desire to stabilize his power base within the party, as the appointee is close to LDP power brokers Shinzo Abe and Taro Aso.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Nov 4, 2021

Unpacking Japan’s post-election narratives

Though the LDP maintained a stable majority, Osaka-based Nippon Ishin no Kai was the biggest winner in the election, securing 41 seats — 31 more than its previous 10.
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Nov 2, 2021

Nippon Ishin faces fundamental hurdles to further electoral success

Experts say it's likely that the party will remain official outsiders but mostly align with the ruling coalition's policies.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Oct 19, 2021

Issue of national security looms large in Lower House campaign

The economy and fight against COVID-19 remain the top issues for voters, but they are increasingly concerned about threats from China and North Korea.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 14, 2021

Lower House dissolved as Japan shifts into election season

Kishida is heading into the vote facing a balancing act between placating conservative voters and LDP lawmakers, and seeing off a more united left-leaning opposition.
JAPAN / Politics / The LDP's game of thrones
Sep 8, 2021

With Suga's imminent departure, the battle for power has already begun

The prime minister's announcement that he would step down as leader of the LDP has set in motion a fierce race to the top.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Aug 5, 2021

Taking stock of the LDP presidential race

With five potential outcomes and myriad players and interests in the mix, there is still a lot of ground the LDP must cover to reach the finish line in its presidential election.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 27, 2021

Population shift in Japan forces redrawing of electoral map, worrying powerful LDP figures

The plan to add representatives in urban areas at the expense of rural districts could hurt LDP heavyweights from Shinzo Abe to Toshihiro Nikai.
JAPAN / Politics / EXPLAINER
Dec 24, 2020

Generational change and policy differences test LDP-Komeito political bonds

The Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito recently marked 21 years of alliance, having ruled Japan as a coalition for 18 of those years. But are they growing apart?
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 21, 2020

Jacinda Ardern landslide is a vote for COVID-19 competence

Shutting down New Zealand's economy at a time when there'd been just 102 cases was a political gamble, but one that's paid off.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / ANALYSIS
Oct 19, 2020

Jacinda Ardern’s stunning election victory holds lessons for U.S.

Ardern's message of empathy and kindness contrasts starkly with the divisive politics in the U.S. as Donald Trump and Joe Biden face off.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 14, 2020

New Zealand gives U.S. a lesson in pandemic democracy

The U.S., a nation founded on the principle that all people are created equal and endowed with inalienable rights, would do well to heed the example given by New Zealand.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jun 11, 2020

‘Why You Can’t Be Prime Minister’: A Sisyphean slog toward the top office

Shinzo Abe has been with us for so long now, it’s easy to forget that there was a time when Japan’s premiership seemed to rotate as frequently as the membership of AKB48.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
May 27, 2020

South Korea probes 'comfort women' support group for fraud, local newspaper says

South Korea’s top prosecutor has ordered an investigation into financial fraud allegations made against a support group for “comfort women” — a euphemism for those who were forced or coerced into Japan’s wartime brothel system under various circumstances, including abduction, deception and...

Longform

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji