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EDITORIALS
Aug 3, 2008

Mr. Fukuda begins anew

More than 10 months after Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda came to power, he has finally formed a Cabinet of his choosing. When he became prime minister in late September 2007, following the sudden resignation of his predecessor Shinzo Abe, he had to retain 15 of the 17 Cabinet members appointed by Mr. Abe...
JAPAN
Jun 21, 2008

After the drama, the curtain drops quietly on the current Diet session

The curtain drops on the ordinary Diet session Saturday, quietly and without the catharsis the Democratic Party of Japan aimed for with its last-minute censure motion against Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda last week.
JAPAN
Sep 24, 2007

Fukuda elected new LDP president

joins his main contender, Taro Aso (left), and other members of the Liberal Democratic Party in shouting banzai after winning the party's presidential race Sunday. YOSHIAKI MIURA PHOTO
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 8, 2007

Should Abe stay or go? Japan debates the LDP's electoral defeat

WASHINGTON — Prime Minister Abe Shinzo has told the Japanese public that despite his ruling coalition government's devastating defeat in the July 29 Upper House elections, he will do "the responsible thing": He will stay on as the party's leader and as Japan's prime minister.
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 10, 2007

Shinzo Abe at a crossroads

With media polls showing approval ratings for the Cabinet falling from over 70 percent upon its inauguration four months ago to the lower 40 percent level, the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe appears to be at a crossroads.
EDITORIALS
Sep 28, 2006

Mr. Abe makes his first move

Mr. Shinzo Abe was chosen as the nation's new prime minister by the Diet Tuesday and immediately formed his Cabinet. Although Mr. Abe is the first prime minister to have been born after World War II, and, at 52, is the youngest prime minister in the postwar period, his Cabinet lineup does not contain...
JAPAN
Sep 21, 2006

Political career of Shinzo Abe

Major events in Shinzo Abe's career:
COMMENTARY
Jul 12, 2005

A skittish reform pendulum

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's postal privatization bills cleared the Lower House on July 5 by only five votes, demonstrating the strength of anti-Koizumi forces in the governing Liberal Democratic Party. The narrow margin reflected severe criticism of not only the legislation but also Koizumi's...
JAPAN
Feb 21, 2004

Koizumi tells ministries to swap top bureaucrats

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi ordered all ministries Friday to hire more bureaucrats from other sectors of the government so that they will account for 10 percent of all of its high-ranking staff within three years.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 21, 2003

Koizumi wins new mandate to lead LDP

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi was re-elected head of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Saturday, a sweeping victory in a vote by LDP politicians and the party's local chapters over his three challengers.
COMMENTARY
Jul 9, 2002

Turmoil after Diet adjourns

The regular Diet session, which was extended in late June for 42 days through the end of July, is entering a critical period. Since it opened in January, the Diet has performed poorly, with a number of key bills still awaiting action.
JAPAN
May 24, 2001

Koizumi's popularity propels LDP poll rating to two-year high

The Cabinet of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi continues to enjoy better than 85 percent support among voters, and his appeal even lifted the LDP above the 40 percent support line for the first time in almost two years, according to a Kyodo News poll released Wednesday.
BUSINESS
Apr 2, 2001

Japan's new era of reconstruction: changing an outdated government

Perhaps you may wonder why as of Jan. 6 the Okurasho (Finance Ministry) is being called the Zaimusho and why various changes are being made within this administrative bureau.
EDITORIALS
Jan 5, 2001

Familiar faces in Washington

President-elect George W. Bush has completed his Cabinet nominations. He has assembled a diverse group that has ample experience in Washington and in dealing with the bureaucracy. They are competent, capable and conservative. Taken as a whole, however, the group raises questions about Mr. Bush's claim...
JAPAN
Dec 1, 2000

Mori weathers storm but warned against further gaffes

The 72-day extraordinary Diet session comes to a close today with Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori clinging to power despite a series of challenges that could have ousted him from office.
JAPAN
Nov 18, 2000

No-confidence motion to be voted on Monday

A showdown that may oust Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori and split the ruling Liberal Democratic Party will come Monday, when the House of Representatives votes on a no-confidence motion against his Cabinet.
JAPAN
Nov 12, 2000

Kato stands by call for Mori to step down

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party was plunged into further turmoil Saturday, only one day after party heavyweight Koichi Kato intensified the pressure on embattled Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori by saying he has no plans to defend Mori in the event of a no-confidence motion.
JAPAN
Jul 15, 2000

Bailout decisions case by case, says Mori's 'younger brother'

Although the controversial bailout plan for the Sogo Co. department store chain and its group firms was eventually scrapped when the group filed for court-mandated rehabilitation this week, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hidenao Nakagawa is not sure how the government will handle similar cases in the future....
JAPAN
May 4, 2000

Bureaucracy had large role in political power play

Kyodo News On the night of April 2, when then Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi suffered a stroke and fell into a coma, Teijiro Furukawa was one of the few people immediately informed, and he promptly busied himself arranging for a smooth transfer of power.
JAPAN
Jan 14, 1999

Analysis: Coalition plagued with problems

After days of intense haggling between the Liberal Democratic Party and Liberal Party, Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi finally launched a coalition government Thursday. But despite his desire for a stable government, he appears to be headed for trouble.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Dec 9, 2022

Amid low ratings and scandals, Kishida scores a win with passage of key bills

In a parliamentary session rocked by Cabinet resignations and controversy over the Unification Church, the prime minister was able to eke out some political wins.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Aug 22, 2022

Kishida's attempt to reset Unification Church issue backfires

It was revealed that at least seven members of Kishida's new Cabinet had ties to the Unification Church.
COMMENTARY / Japan / Geoeconomic Briefing
Jan 20, 2022

Japan needs radical change to achieve health security

Health crises, such as the ongoing pandemic, are a national security threat just like major disasters and armed attacks, and preparation is vital.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 1, 2021

Abe's influence weighs heavily on Kishida's LDP executive picks

Newly installed LDP chief Fumio Kishida officially unveiled the ruling party's new executive lineup Friday, elevating a close ally of the former prime minister to the No. 2 role.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Oct 13, 2020

Getting 'Suganomics' on track: Three points to gauge PM's progress

The new Japanese government will be successful if early and small successes can be achieved to give it momentum.
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 14, 2020

Japan's next leader: How Yoshihide Suga beat the odds to succeed Shinzo Abe

The current chief Cabinet secretary won by a landslide in the party poll, all but guaranteeing his spot at the top.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal / LAW OF THE LAND
Jun 18, 2020

Much ado about retirement ages and Japan's politicized bureaucracy

The scandal surrounding top prosecutor Hiromu Kurokawa has kicked off a debate on retirement ages and interference in Japan's civil service.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jan 23, 2020

Komeito, the 20-year-old security watchdog

Komeito wields influence in major security policy decisions, especially the one that has most Japan-watchers intrigued: constitutional amendment.

Longform

Sumadori Bar on Shibuya Ward's main Center Gai street targets young customers who prefer low-alcohol drinks or abstain altogether.
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