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Japan Times
PODCAST / deep dive
Dec 7, 2022

The Church, the State and Kishida's headache

Kanako Takahara joins this week's Deep Dive to discuss what's behind a new bill regulating faith-driven donations.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Oct 23, 2022

Liz Truss’s 44 days in office net her a £115,000 yearly stipend for life

The money isn't for private use, but rather to help pay for the additional costs, like staffing, faced by former prime ministers after being in 'public life.”
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 5, 2022

Disapproval rate for Kishida rises amid mounting problems

A Yomiuri Shimbun poll found that the Cabinet disapproval rating had topped 40% for the first time and now stood at 41%, up 7 percentage points from the previous poll in early August.
JAPAN
Jul 26, 2022

Government lists 'disruptive acts' under security-linked land law

Among the acts listed are laser irradiation, radio jamming and erecting structures that may obstruct the landing and takeoff of Self-Defense Forces aircraft.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics / FOCUS
Jul 9, 2022

Inside the week of Boris Johnson’s downfall

The populist and chaotic leader was a hero for millions of Brexit voters but he ultimately succumbed to a deluge of scandals of his own creation as his most senior ministers turned on him.
Japan Times
JAPAN / History / JAPAN TIMES GONE BY
Jul 2, 2022

Japan Times 1947: National Diet holds first ‘free debate’

An economic white paper was discussed in the Lower House in July 1947 when a “free debate” was held for the first time in Japan's parliamentary history.
JAPAN / FOCUS
Jun 15, 2022

Fruitful parliament session for Kishida ends with some grumbles at the margins

Kishida's first session as prime minister saw a popular stance on Ukraine and a 100% record on bills passed, but inflation and a re-emerging reputation for indecision present some worries.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jun 9, 2022

Brothers at odds, but ruling family still holds key to Sri Lanka's future

Two brothers who had dominated Sri Lanka's politics for nearly 20 years have gone their separate ways.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Dec 19, 2021

Johnson’s Brexit chief quits in another blow to U.K. leader

The departure of such a pivotal figure in Johnson's sphere comes on the heels of greater restrictions — including vaccine passports — to combat the spread of the omicron variant.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 16, 2021

Should Tokyo boycott the Beijing Olympic Games?

The Japanese government reportedly will refrain from sending a Cabinet minister to the Winter Olympics in Beijing. But that decision has yet to be reached.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Nov 10, 2021

With momentum on his side, Kishida ready to roll out key policies on COVID-19 and economy

While Wednesday's legislative session to re-elect Kishida might have appeared to be ceremonial, one thing is clear: He is now on a much more solid footing within the LDP.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 11, 2021

Opposition presses Kishida on COVID-19 and economic policy in Diet questioning

With an eye on the upcoming Lower House election, CDP leader Yukio Edano mixed his attacks on the new prime minister with counterproposals of his own.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 29, 2021

Japan faces a rapidly changing Indo-Pacific strategic environment

Tokyo has witnessed several significant political, economic and military developments over the past month following the full withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan.
Einav Zangauker, mother of Israeli hostage Matan Zangauker, sits on the shoulders of Michel Illouz, father of deceased hostage Guy Illouz, as they attend a demonstration in Tel Aviv on Saturday calling for the release of hostages.
WORLD
Aug 10, 2025

Thousands rally in Tel Aviv against Netanyahu’s new Gaza plan

A day earlier, Israeli officials had decided to seize Gaza City, expanding military operations in the devastated Palestinian territory.
Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto (left) and U.S. Ambassador to Japan Walter Mondale during a news conference at the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo in April 1996 announcing the decision to return to Japan the site for the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma air station in Okinawa Prefecture
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 17, 2025

Okinawa’s backers in LDP dwindle, prompting concern

At present, not many lawmakers are putting priority on Okinawa after measures taken by the government in the past for the development of the prefecture produced certain results.
Onetime members of a now-defunct faction once led by the late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe are calling for the party to more actively promote conservative policies.
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 17, 2025

Internal battle pits LDP's conservatives against liberals

Some in the party —mainly ex-members of the now-defunct Abe faction — are calling for it to more actively advertise conservative policies.
Protesters shout slogans and hold photos of hostages during a demonstration calling for a hostages deal on Sunday in Tel Aviv.
WORLD
Aug 18, 2025

Anti-war protests erupt in Israel ahead of Gaza City operation

Organizers said that as many as half a million people attended the main rally at Tel Aviv’s "hostage square” in the evening, a massive turnout by Israeli standards.
Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who was ousted as Thai prime minister on Friday, arrives at Government House in Bangkok ahead of the Constitutional Court's verdict.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Aug 29, 2025

Thai court ousts PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra for ethics violation 

The decision marks another crushing blow to the Shinawatra political dynasty and could usher in a new period of turmoil.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announces his decision to step down, at the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo on Sunday.
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 7, 2025

Ishiba to quit as prime minister amid LDP discontent

The move comes amid growing calls from within the LDP for the prime minister to step aside after a poor showing in July’s Upper House election.
Candidates for Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s presidential election stand together on stage before a debate in Tokyo in September 2024. Pictured are future Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Yoshimasa Hayashi, Sanae Takaichi, Shinjiro Koizumi and others. 
COMMENTARY / Japan
Sep 9, 2025

Ishiba’s resignation triggers a battle for the soul of the LDP

To become the next prime minister, the new LDP leader will also need to secure enough support from one or two of the other larger conservative opposition parties.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba holds a news conference on Sunday in Tokyo where he announced his resignation.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Sep 10, 2025

The Liberal Democratic Party’s internal coup is complete

Ishiba came into the prime ministership last year with the odds already stacked against him. The LDP was a fractured party with waning public support.
Sebastien Lecornu, France's then-Minister of Armed Forces, leaves the Elysee presidential palace in Paris after a weekly Cabinet meeting on March 5. French President Emmanuel Macron has named Lecornu France’s new prime minister.
WORLD / Politics
Sep 10, 2025

Macron appoints ally Lecornu as France’s new prime minister

Lecornu, who previously served as defense minister, will become the country’s fifth prime minister in two years.
Former Liberal Democratic Party Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi announces he will run in the race for president of the Liberal Democratic Party at a news conference on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 10, 2025

Motegi calls for ‘new coalition’ in bid for LDP presidency

The former party secretary-general sees welcoming a new coalition member — possibly the Democratic Party for the People or Nippon Ishin no Kai — as the way forward.
Agricultural minister Shinjiro Koizumi is planning to run in the Liberal Democratic Party's upcoming presidential poll, sources said.
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 12, 2025

Koizumi plans to run for LDP president, sources say

Koizumi plans to inform his supporters in his electoral district about the decision on the weekend and hold a news conference next week to formally announce his bid.
Former economic security minister Takayuki Kobayashi announces his bid for the Liberal Democratic Party's presidency in Tokyo on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 16, 2025

In LDP leadership bid, Kobayashi touts ‘moderate’ stance as selling point

Kobayashi pledged to make Japan a tech powerhouse again, boost defense spending and push through a generational change in the LDP if elected party chief.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announces his intention to resign during a news conference at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo on Sept. 7. The Japanese leader decided to step down following weeks of calls for his departure in the aftermath of a second national election setback. 
COMMENTARY / Japan
Sep 16, 2025

Can anyone save the fracturing Liberal Democratic Party?

This is shaping up to be an even less predictable race than the last one, when Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba pulled off a surprise victory.

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’