National / Politics | FOCUS Feb 21, 2021
Suga faces flak over decision not to live in PM's official residence
Prime minister sticks to his guns despite criticism that this could make him slow to respond crises.
National / Politics Feb 10, 2021
Ladies in white: Lawmakers dress to protest Mori's sexist remarks
Opposition party members wore white jackets with white roses to a Diet session in an homage to the women's suffrage movement.
National / Politics Feb 5, 2021
Budget talks overshadowed as more issues pile up for Suga
by Satoshi Sugiyama
There is mounting pressure on the prime minister on issues ranging from a potential ethics violation involving a family member to sexist remarks by the Tokyo Games chair.
National Feb 2, 2021
Japan to enact laws introducing fines for defying virus steps
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party backed down on a controversial proposal to imprison COVID-19 patients who refuse to be hospitalized.
National / Politics | FOCUS Feb 2, 2021
'No magic bullet': Japan's main opposition party struggles to win public's support
Amid the spread of the new coronavirus, the CDP is aiming to make a shift to focus more on making policy proposals.
National / Politics Jan 31, 2021
Japan's main opposition ready to prove itself as Suga stumbles
Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan leader Yukio Edano says his party is a viable alternative to the current government despite weak showings in public opinion polls.
National Jan 29, 2021
Suga forced to compromise on virus penalties as revised bills reach Diet
by Satoshi Sugiyama
An unusual compromise between ruling and opposition parties reflected Suga’s desperation to curb virus transmission and stamp out criticism over his handling of the pandemic.
National / Politics | FOCUS Jan 28, 2021
In trying week, Suga fails to quell disquiet at the Diet over coronavirus response
by Satoshi Sugiyama
During days of debates, the ruling LDP was forced to concede ground on criminalizing noncompliance with virus measures but will press on with fines, Go To programs and the Olympics.
National / Politics Jan 22, 2021
Diet in review: Suga defensive on virus response but steadfast on Olympics
by Satoshi Sugiyama
Japan's prime minister took heat from one opposition lawmaker after another during three days of question-and-answer sessions.
National / Politics Jan 22, 2021
Opposition leaders call for Tokyo Games to be canceled or delayed
The JCP is demanding cancellation of the games, citing the WHO chief scientist's comment that herd immunity cannot be acquired through vaccinations within the year.
National / Politics Jan 20, 2021
Opposition slams government virus response as Diet debate starts
The country's main opposition party criticized the government in the Diet Wednesday for its delay in declaring a state of emergency over the coronavirus pandemic and opposed its plan to penalize those infected with the virus who refuse to be hospitalized. After Prime Minister Yoshihide ...
National Jan 14, 2021
Japan considers prison and fines for refusing COVID-19 hospitalization
A term of up to one year or a fine of up to ¥1 million is being considered for infected people declining inpatient care, an official said, with other related penalties also under discussion.