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Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 10, 2009

Women lack confidence, ambition for Diet: experts

Although last month's election brought an unprecedented number of women into the Lower House, female lawmakers both at home and abroad are still subject to double standards and lack the ambition to take the stage in national politics, experts said at a recent symposium.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 2, 2009

The impossible idealist of Seoul

HONOLULU — The death of Roh Moo Hyun, the 16th president of the Republic of Korea (2003-2008), is a huge shock to South Korea's political world. A human rights lawyer with no college degree, Roh campaigned to revolutionize Korean politics and society by promoting clean politics, fighting corruption...
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 20, 2009

Whispers of sanity in the frenzy of madness

LUCKNOW, India — It was refreshing to hear the views of Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer, a Right Livelihood Award recipient, on the politics of terrorism. He rightly believes that terrorism is not born of any religion, but is the outcome of political situations.
EDITORIALS
Apr 21, 2008

Torch relay lights up many issues

The most controversial Olympic torch relay in history will arrive in Japan this week. The relay route has been changed and another event canceled in Nagano amid worries over the many protesters who have followed the route as persistently as any athlete. This Olympic torch has turned out to be symbolic...
EDITORIALS
Aug 10, 2006

Nagano bids maverick goodbye

Nagano voters on Sunday chose a steady and stable style of politics over maverick leadership often characterized by theatrics, confrontation and confusion. Gov. Yasuo Tanaka, a reform-minded ex-novelist, sought a third term but was defeated by Mr. Jin Murai, a former state minister for national disaster...
JAPAN
Sep 10, 2005

Family-bred politicians fan out

KURASHIKI, Okayama Pref. -- Japanese politics is often a family affair, with the offspring of Diet members winning seats originally held by their fathers, and in some cases, grandfathers.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 1, 2005

'Irritating' book of statistics no joke for political crusader

The subtitle of a recently published book by political analyst Atsuo Ito sounds like a joke: "The most irritating data book in Japan."
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 28, 2003

Governor wannabes shunning parties

The gubernatorial election campaigns that kicked off Thursday could trigger a major change in the political scene if strong, reform-minded candidates challenging the highly centralized system emerge victorious.
EDITORIALS
Aug 11, 2002

Another fallen political idol

Former Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka's resignation from the Diet on Friday was a surprise even though her political fortunes had waned visibly in recent months amid a smoldering money scandal. Did she take responsibility for the "trouble" she had caused? Was she unable to bear the brunt of public criticism?...
CULTURE / Books / THE ASIAN BOOKSHELF
Jul 21, 2002

Flawed assumptions that courted disaster

PEACE, POWER AND RESISTANCE IN CAMBODIA: Global Governance and the Failure of InternationalConflict Resolution, by Pierre P. Lizee. Macmillan/St. Martin's Press, 2000, 206 pp. (cloth) According to the famous dictum, war is the continuation of politics through other means. Is the reverse true? Is politics...
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 29, 2002

Soccer teams show the power of reform

The drama of the World Cup has implications for politics in Japan and South Korea. To be sure, soccer and politics are two different games, one a competition for skill and physical stamina and the other a struggle for power and interests. Nevertheless, we can draw lessons from the performances of the...
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 1, 2001

Constituents mattered most to Soichiro Ito

BERKELEY, California -- For the people of Miyagi Prefecture's 4th district, the generational shift in Japanese politics has just arrived. On Oct. 28, Shintaro Ito was elected to represent Miyagi's 4th district in a special by-election to replace his father, Soichiro, who passed away on Sept. 4.
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 29, 2001

Reform out of reach for Kim Dae Jung

SEOUL -- Some weeks ago, I attended an academic conference that attempted a critical evaluation of the performance of administration of South Korea President Kim Dae Jung three years after its inception. I sat on a panel with probably the most prominent liberal political scientist in South Korea today,...
EDITORIALS
Mar 24, 2001

Direct elections are not the cure

The view that the prime minister should be elected by popular vote is gaining ground. Ironically, it is Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori himself -- one of the most unpopular prime ministers in memory -- that is contributing to this groundswell of opinion. It is not just ordinary citizens, academics and business...
CULTURE / Books
Jul 13, 2000

Politicians ever eager to please

THE JAPANESE POLITICAL PERSONALITY: Analyzing the Motivations and Culture of Freshman Diet Members, by Ofer Feldman. St. Martin's Press/Macmillan Press, 2000, 182 pp. (cloth), unpriced. The popular conception of the Japanese politician is that of a man (almost always), who is pushed and prodded by...
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 30, 2022

When elections become more like sporting events

Elections are like sporting events: Many voters, like fans, seem to view victory over the other side as an end in itself
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Oct 12, 2022

Nepotism and Japan's political dynasties

The appointment of Fumio Kishida's son as an executive secretary in the Prime Minister's Office has prompted a backlash and is raising questions about nepotism.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan / Geoeconomic Briefing
Sep 6, 2022

Japan needs to take measures against China’s geoeconomic strategy

This year has seen a rise in military tensions, but also increasing economic security concerns.
COMMENTARY / Japan / Geoeconomic Briefing
Feb 22, 2022

What Kishida’s ‘realism diplomacy for a new era’ actually means for Japan

By labeling his foreign policy stance as “realism,” the prime minister is apparently trying to avoid being criticized by conservative members of the party.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 1, 2021

When Halloween met election night in Tokyo

Many revelers said they felt excluded from the political process, and that there was more chance of a zombie invasion than the LDP being ousted from power.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / FOCUS
Nov 19, 2020

In Indonesia, making of a mayor sparks talk of nation's newest dynasty

The political aspirations of the president's son have raised suspicions that the leader is forming a new dynasty to elbow its way in among Indonesia's old elites.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Nov 1, 2020

Malaysia’s once-peripheral king emerges as major political force

For Malaysia, where one coalition ruled for six straight decades until the 2018 election, it's relatively new for the monarch to play such a prominent role in politics.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Mar 2, 2020

Abe has crossed the coronavirus Rubicon

Leaders need deft political skills to survive the COVID-19 crisis.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 18, 2019

With pacifist Constitution at stake, apathy reigns in Japan ahead of Upper House election

Politically speaking, the upcoming Upper House election is a huge deal for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. After all, it's a vote that could determine the fate of his long-held ambition to amend the postwar pacifist Constitution.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Society / ANALYSIS
May 10, 2019

Dearth of female candidates highlights obstacles women face during India's election cycle

The men contesting India's general election are vying for female voters, but the paltry number of female candidates shows the battle women face in Indian politics — as in so much else in Indian life.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 28, 2019

Watch out U.K. conservatives, Farage is coming after you

The anti-EU militant's new Brexit Party seeks seats in the European Parliament, but his larger ambition is realigning British politics.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 7, 2019

This is the year we must act

Without a new paradigm for managing globalization, fragmentation and political despair will become the new normal.

Longform

Bear attacks have dominated Japanese news headlines in recent months, with 13 people so far having been killed by the animals.
Japan’s bears have been on their killing spree for more than 100 years