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EDITORIALS
Oct 16, 2014

A step backward in Indonesia

The old guard in Indonesia may have lost the fight for the presidency in July, but in the late night hours of the last legislative session, they consolidated their control over local and provincial elections by changing the voting procedures.
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 20, 2014

Red-yellow scrum moves beyond the border

As the U.S. hosts the largest number of Thai immigrants — about 250,000 — it stands to reason that Thailand's color-coded politics would land on its shores. Both camps are trying to lobby the U.S. government.
BUSINESS
Feb 6, 2014

New boss to steer Keidanren back to politics?

Sadayuki Sakakibara, the incoming chairman of Keidanren, says his priority in leading the nation's top business lobby is to help get Japan back on a growth track, but observers say he may also try to re-establish the organization's influence in politics.
JAPAN / View from Osaka
Dec 14, 2013

State secrets bill shows Abe's tin ear for local politics

Former U.S. Speaker of the House Thomas "Tip" O'Neill, one of America's most influential politicians of the late 20th century, had some sage advice for those who thought about national or international politics. "All politics," O'Neill warned, "is local."
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Oct 20, 2013

Georgian PM's clout unlikely to fade after polls

Georgia's billionaire prime minister, Bidzina Ivanishvili, looks surprised at the suggestion that he might be a touch sensitive to criticism.
COMMENTARY
Sep 16, 2011

New prime minister must restore confidence in politics

Yoshihiko Noda, taking over from Naoto Kan as president of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan, was elected the 95th prime minister on Aug. 30. He is the 18th prime minister in 25 years and the third since the DPJ came to power two years ago.
COMMENTARY / World / SENTAKU MAGAZINE
Mar 11, 2009

Nakasone predicts major changes in politics

Former Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone, who still exerts much influence in Japanese politics at the age of 90, hailed Ichiro Ozawa in an interview toward the end of last year as "having gained dignity, insight and stature during the past year" as the man qualified to lead his Democratic Party of Japan...
EDITORIALS
Aug 21, 2004

Erosion of LDP factional politics

The largest faction of the Liberal Democratic Party, which until recently was headed by former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto, is having trouble selecting its new leader. Turmoil in the faction, known as the Heisei Study Group, indicates further erosion of the LDP's factional politics.
CULTURE / Books / THE ASIAN BOOKSHELF
Jun 22, 2003

We cannot forget Taiwan

TAIWAN: A Political History, by Denny Roy. Cornell University Press, 2003, 255 pp., $18.95 (paper). With international attention focused on Iraq and North Korea, the Taiwan problem has vanished from the headlines. It won't go away, however; geography and politics guarantee that. Put this break to productive...
EDITORIALS
Jan 25, 2003

Diet's role in cleaning up politics

The economic debate in the Diet appears to be distracting legislators from an issue that is no less important: political ethics. It would be a great pity if this issue were to be sidelined under the pretext of prioritizing economic-recovery measures. Recent developments involving scandal-tainted politicians...
EDITORIALS
Jan 16, 2003

From business to politics

A fter a nine-year break, Nippon Keidanren (Japan Business Federation) this year is resuming its role in mediating political donations from affiliated companies. The aim, of course, is to increase its influence on politics. In other words, Nippon Keidanren is seeking to sway politics with the policy...
SPORTS / SPORTS SCOPE
Feb 21, 2002

'Rainbow Warrior' talks rugby, politics, life

Francois Pienaar is best known as the man who unified a nation.
COMMENTARY
Jun 14, 2000

The chancy politics of weather

In less than two weeks, on Sunday, June 25, Japanese voters will cast their ballots in what will be Japan's last general election of the 20th century. This may well turn out to be the most important Japanese general election since July 18, 1993, which resulted in the inauguration, on Aug. 9 of that year,...
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 10, 2000

Why Japanese voters reject politics

Political stagnation and a feeling of powerlessness are often cited among the reasons that Japanese hate politics.
JAPAN
May 2, 2000

Bedridden Takeshita to quit politics

Ailing former Prime Minister Noboru Takeshita, the behind-the-scenes kingmaker of the Liberal Democratic Party, announced through a recorded message Monday that he will retire from politics for health reasons.
EDITORIALS
Dec 10, 1999

Victims of money politics

Mr. Helmut Kohl may no longer be Germany's chancellor, a position he held for 16 years, but he continues to be one of the country's most revered statesmen. He presided over the reunification of Germany and in the process helped the country become "a normal nation." While each of his predecessors pushed...
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 31, 2023

Politics by other means in the Modi vs. BBC row

The subversion of India’s media through public institutions, tax authorities and enforcement agencies is a legacy that started long before the BJP came to power.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 9, 2022

The biggest threat to democracy and peace is thuggishness

The operating system of any functioning society is civility, and thuggishness is the virus that makes it crash.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 8, 2022

How Australia revived the political middle

The outcome of Australia's federal election in May should help to dispel the cynicism that leads many to think that politics never changes anything.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jun 16, 2021

The party politics behind the annual no-confidence motion

All LDP Secretary-General Toshihiro Nikai needed was something to justify his outspoken preference for a snap election, and the no-confidence motion was just that.
JAPAN
Feb 12, 2021

How 'indispensable' Mori came to enjoy huge influence in politics and sport

The former prime minister had contacts his peers did not and the ability to get things done behind the scenes that leaders in both arenas relied on heavily.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jan 29, 2021

U.S.-Japan ties must go beyond domestic politics

Under America's new leadership, mutual understanding and a return to political normalcy in the United States should further strengthen U.S.-Japan relations.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Nov 16, 2020

With progressive politics on march in New Zealand, Maori minister blazes new trails

Nanaia Mahuta's excitement reflects a global desire among progressives for a shift away from the chauvinist, right-wing populism that has shaped the past four years in some countries.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Aug 20, 2020

Why Japan's opposition parties falter

Coalescing a viable opposition is not as simple as combining parties.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Jul 11, 2020

The murky politics behind Japan's campaign financing

Katsuyuki and Anri Kawai are accused of using campaign funds to buy favors, but the use of cash for gift-giving is so prevalent in Japan as to make it difficult to prove.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jul 9, 2020

Preparing for a post-Abe agenda

To assure Japan's future prosperity and success, open-minded, strong and decisive political leadership is necessary.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 23, 2020

America's 2020 is not like 1968: It may be worse

Social unrest helped doom Lyndon Johnson's presidency. It may end up saving Trump's.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Feb 16, 2020

Power and money in Japanese politics

The income and terms of office for lawmakers can help explain Diet bribery and corruption.

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