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Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / DECISION 2014
Dec 12, 2014

Ishikawa aims to become first openly gay member of Lower House

Openly gay politician Taiga Ishikawa says that winning a Diet seat in Sunday's election would empower him to change politics and help Japanese society recognize its diversity.
EDITORIALS
Dec 12, 2014

Take the time to vote

Voter turnout Sunday for the Lower House election is forecast to be as low as it was in the 2012 race. Young people especially need to realize that, by avoiding the polls, they are losing their voice on issues that will certainly affect their future.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / DECISION 2014
Dec 10, 2014

DPJ faces uphill battle for swing voters

While the ruling coalition commands a higher number of core supporters, opposition parties are vying for swing voters in an election that is expected to see a low turnout.
JAPAN / Politics / DECISION 2014
Dec 8, 2014

As opposition dithers, voters mull four more years of Abe

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's chances for becoming the nation's longest-serving leader in more than four decades are increasing as the opposition finds itself hobbled by factionalism, shifting policies and funding shortages.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Nov 24, 2014

Baffled by snap election, voters may stay home and erode the mandate Abe seeks

Voters, puzzled as to why Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is calling an election now and unimpressed by opposition alternatives, may shun the Dec. 14 election in record numbers.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 23, 2014

LDP incumbents look to have electoral lock on nation's nuclear heartland

The political fate of Fukui's aging reactors has long been in the hands of powerful pro-nuclear Diet members, and the upcoming election is not expected to change that.
EDITORIALS
Nov 21, 2014

Opposition must get its act together

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is seeking a vote of confidence for his "Abenomics" policies in the Dec. 14 election of the Lower House. But as the chamber was officially dissolved Friday, the opposition parties still lack a common ground beyond their unanimous criticism of Abe's economic policies as failures...
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 18, 2013

Defectors from Your Party form new opposition force

Former Your Party Secretary-General Kenu00adji Eda launches his new party with 14 fellow defectors hoping to build a viable counter to the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 11, 2013

Higashikokubaru opts out of Nippon Ishin, Diet

Lower House member and ex-Miyazaki Gov. Hiu00addeo Hiu00adgau00adshiu00adkou00adkuu00adbau00adru exits Nippon Ishin no Kai and will quit as a Diet member, raising speculation that he might try to run for governor of Tokyo or seek his old job in Miyazaki.
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 21, 2013

For the GOP to survive, the tea party must die

Tea party supporters think they are fighting for America's Republican soul. If they win, they will drive the party so far from the middle that a GOP president will become unimaginable.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / CLOSE-UP
Aug 31, 2013

Naoto Kan speaks out

Naoto Kan took his first steps in the world of politics around 40 years ago as a pugnacious citizen-activist, admonishing those with power as only those without it can. He likes to say he's the same man now, but of course there's an irony in that. After all, in the intervening years he acquired about...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / JUST BE CAUSE
Aug 5, 2013

Ol' blue eyes isn't back: Tsurunen's tale offers lessons in microcosm for DPJ

Spare a thought for Marutei Tsurunen, Japan's first European-born naturalized immigrant parliamentarian, who was voted out in last month's House of Councilors election.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 25, 2013

SDP's Fukushima resigns over dual election losses

Mizuho Fukushima, head of the Social Democratic Party for nearly a decade, resigned Thursday to take responsibility for the party's losses in Sunday's Upper House election and the Lower House election in December.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 22, 2013

Defiant Nippon Ishin pauses on resignations

After an election that saw only eight of its 44 candidates win seats in Sunday's Upper House election, Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) leaders were stressing the need for a unified opposition against the Liberal Democratic Party-New Komeito ruling coalition.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 16, 2013

Abe casts absentee vote, heads to Okinawa to stump for LDP

Ever on the stump in the run-up to Sunday's judgment day, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe cast absentee ballots for the Upper House election in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward on Tuesday before heading to Okinawa to continue his country-crossing campaigning for fellow Liberal Democratic Party candidates.

Longform

Sumadori Bar on Shibuya Ward's main Center Gai street targets young customers who prefer low-alcohol drinks or abstain altogether.
Rethinking that second drink: Japan’s Gen Z gets ‘sober curious’