Prime Minister Shinzo Abe apologized Monday for a recent incident in which he heckled an opposition lawmaker, and promised not to make irregular remarks in the Diet. "I apologize for making the irregular remark," Abe told a meeting of the House of Representatives Budget Committee. ...
As Japan's top opposition parties weigh merger, once-powerful SDP faces tough road ahead
The small opposition Social Democratic Party, once the key rival of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, is struggling to hold on to its status as a force to be reckoned with in Japanese politics. Since early December, the SDP had been discussing an integration proposal ...
Opposition parties lay into Abe over scandals and Mideast dispatch
Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan leader Yukio Edano used parliamentary debates to go after Prime Minister Abe on allegations of cronyism over an annual taxpayer-funded cherry blossom viewing party.
Merger of Japan opposition parties remains elusive as DPP lawmakers balk at immediate action
An endeavor to merge the two largest opposition parties in Japan ground to a halt Tuesday, after the Democratic Party for the People failed to reach internal consensus ahead of a deadline on consolidation the previous day. "We think it's regrettable, although we believe that ...
Japan opposition submits bill to scrap casino laws amid bribery scandal
Opposition parties are set to grill the government over the controversial handling of public documents pertaining to a state-funded cherry blossom-viewing party as well.
Japan opposition parties' failing merger bid offers glimpse into divisions
The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Democratic Party for the People missed a golden chance ahead of the Diet’s opening Monday, and time is running out.
Japanese opposition parties fail to reach deal on proposed merger
Leaders of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Democratic Party for the People have failed to reach an accord in their negotiations on the proposed merger of the major opposition parties. "We agreed to discuss the process and results of our merger negotiations ...
Japan opposition bloc to push for halt to Mideast mission amid Iran-U.S. tensions
Major opposition parties have agreed to press the government to cancel its plan to dispatch Maritime Self-Defense Force units to the Middle East following the Iranian missile attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq on Wednesday. Some in the ruling bloc have started to express concern ...
What will Abe do to cement his legacy?
If you look at Japan's 2020 political calendar now, it will look like it is going to be a relatively quiet one. The one event looming large on the horizon is the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. With the global spectacle taking center stage, it's ...
The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Democratic Party for the People are unlikely to conclude their merger negotiations by the end of the year, senior DPP officials have suggested. The two major opposition parties "have yet to reach consensus on fundamental issues," DPP ...
Akihiro Hatsushika of Japan's CDP opposition party suspected of sexual assault
The Metropolitan Police Department sent papers on the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan's Akihiro Hatsushika to public prosecutors last week over allegations he sexually assaulted a woman in a taxi in May 2015, according to police sources. Hatsushika, 50, in his third term ...
Could merger talks finally produce a credible opposition force in Japan?
With the close of the extraordinary Diet session on Dec. 9, some of the largest opposition parties once again entered talks about merging before year's end, with an eye toward increasing their seats in the next general election. Here's a look at the talks ...
