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EDITORIALS
Aug 7, 2007

Summer break in Baghdad

The most important question for Iraq is: Does the presence of foreign military forces prevent its descent into civil war, or do they permit the Baghdad government to avoid taking responsibility for the nation's future? The decision by the Iraqi Parliament to take a summer recess despite failing to take...
JAPAN / ANALYSIS
Jul 30, 2007

Getting bills through Diet will be a lot tougher for the LDP

The clear message of dissatisfaction that voters sent Sunday to the Liberal Democratic Party will lead to a lengthy period of political instability and legislative gridlock, analysts say.
JAPAN
Jul 4, 2007

Kyuma exits over A-bomb gaffe

made a grave decision as a politician and a Cabinet minister," Abe told reporters. "I respect his decision." Kyuma's resignation comes as the already beleaguered Abe prepares to lead his Liberal Democratic Party into the July 29 House of Councilors election.
EDITORIALS
Feb 8, 2007

More bad news for Mr. Abe

For the first time since Prime Minister Shinzo Abe came to power in late September, more Japanese disapprove of his administration than approve of it. Although Mr. Abe's Liberal Democratic Party emerged victorious in the Aichi gubernatorial election Sunday, he will continue to experience difficulties...
COMMENTARY
Feb 5, 2007

Gaffes dog Abe's leadership

A series of inept remarks made by ministers of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Cabinet have undermined public support for his administration. Opinion polls show that public approval ratings for his Cabinet continue to fall.
BUSINESS
Dec 7, 2006

Abe tax plan hits stiff LDP opposition

The Cabinet's plan to use road-related tax revenues for general expenditures ran into strong opposition Wednesday from members of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, which may force Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to revise his key fiscal reform.
JAPAN
Sep 26, 2006

Profiles of new LDP leadership

Hidenao Nakagawa Veteran politician Hidenao Nakagawa ascended to the position of secretar general, or second in command, of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party despite scandals still dogging him.
COMMENTARY
Sep 18, 2006

A sure-win guards his cards

It is a foregone conclusion that Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe will win the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election Wednesday. He is then likely to be named prime minister at an extraordinary Diet session a week later and to launch a new Cabinet.
JAPAN
Sep 9, 2006

Three candidates vie for the top job

The following are profiles of the three candidates running in the Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election.
JAPAN
Aug 26, 2006

Abe wants stronger prime minister's office if he gets top job

Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe would increase the role of the prime minister's office in setting key policies in education and national security if he becomes the country's leader, sources close to him said Friday.
JAPAN
Aug 22, 2006

Voting for next prime minister will be an all-LDP affair

The year's biggest political event -- the race to pick the next Liberal Democratic Party president and thus the successor to Prime Minis ter Junichiro Koizumi -- officially kicks off Sept. 8 for a Sept. 20 vote. Here are some questions and answers:
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 11, 2006

Nukaga unlikely to join LDP race

Defense Agency Director General Fukushiro Nukaga will probably not become a candidate in the Liberal Democratic Party presidential election in September because his own faction will not support him, political sources said Thursday.
JAPAN
Jan 1, 2006

Four-way horse race to succeed Koizumi

The gate is open and the horses are off and running.
EDITORIALS
Dec 20, 2005

Upgrading the Defense Agency

The Liberal Democratic Party has rather suddenly started airing the idea of upgrading the Defense Agency to a ministry. The party proposed the upgrade in its platform for the Sept. 11 general elections and the prospects for making it happen look stronger now that New Komeito, the LDP's coalition partner,...
JAPAN
Nov 1, 2005

Takebe reappointed secretary general of LDP; Nakagawa gets policy affairs

Prime Minister and Liberal Democratic Party President Junichiro Koizumi reappointed Tsutomu Takebe, 64, to the party's No. 2 post of secretary general, while switching LDP Diet affairs chief Hidenao Nakagawa to the post of policy affairs chief.
COMMENTARY
Nov 1, 2005

Reform march must go on

The Diet on Oct. 14 enacted the postal-privatization bills that Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi called the "centerpiece" of his reform agenda. It was a dream come true for Koizumi, after the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner New Komeito won two-thirds of the Lower House seats...
JAPAN
Aug 15, 2005

Nakagawa visits Yasukuni Shrine

Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Shoichi Nakagawa visited Yasukuni Shrine on Sunday, the first Cabinet member to go to the shrine near the 60th anniversary Monday of the end of World War II.
BUSINESS
Jul 16, 2005

White paper targets red tape, menace of deflation

The government issued its annual economic white paper Friday, calling for greater deregulation and other market-driven reforms aimed at slimming down the bureaucracy.
JAPAN
Apr 23, 2005

81 Diet members visit Yasukuni Shrine

A Cabinet minister and at least 80 other Diet members visited Tokyo's controversial Yasukuni Shrine on Friday.
EDITORIALS
Feb 19, 2005

Missile defense and civilian control

The Cabinet earlier this week approved a bill that would provide a legal framework for a missile defense (MD) system. During the current regular session of the Diet, the government is seeking approval of the proposed amendment to the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) Law plus a bill for creating an integrated...
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 27, 2005

Foggy North Korean shuffle

BRUSSELS -- Recent events in North Korea have been interpreted in various ways and, generally, the wish has been father to the thought. The truth is difficult to discern, but indications are that North Korean leader Kim Jong Il has placed himself firmly behind a reform program that may finally bring...
EDITORIALS
Nov 12, 2004

Challenges to the just-opened Diet

A n extraordinary Diet session that opened Tuesday looks set for lively debates on a host of contentious issues, including the perennial problem of "politics and money." Adding to that is last month's reshuffle of the Cabinet and of top executive posts in both the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and...
COMMENTARY
Nov 2, 2004

U.S. strategies pose risks

Japan's security and defense policies are at a major turning point. The policies are still based on the deployment of the Self-Defense Forces and the American forces stationed in Japan, as stipulated in the bilateral security treaty, but roles are changing drastically in accordance with transformations...
EDITORIALS
Oct 13, 2004

Challenges to just-opened Diet

A n extraordinary Diet session that opened Tuesday looks set for lively debates on a host of contentious issues, including the perennial problem of "politics and money." Adding to that is last month's reshuffle of the Cabinet and of top executive posts in both the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and...
BUSINESS
Sep 10, 2004

Recovery 'solid' but output data worrying

The government maintained an upbeat assessment of Japan's economy in a monthly report released Thursday, though it pointed out that slowing growth in industrial production and exports, along with high crude oil prices, are clouding the economic outlook.
BUSINESS
Sep 7, 2004

Sides still at loggerheads over proposed four-way postal privatization split

Several ruling coalition politicians and Cabinet ministers remained at odds Monday over whether to split Japan Post into four firms in 2007, the first year of the planned 10-year privatization process, officials said.
BUSINESS
May 20, 2004

State to maintain upbeat economic assessment

The Cabinet Office will probably maintain its upbeat assessment of Japan's economy in its monthly report due out Friday, according to government sources.

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’