Referendum law revision passage during current Diet session very unlikely
The passage of an amendment to Japan's national referendum law aimed at improving voter convenience for a possible referendum on revising the Constitution is now unlikely to occur during the current extraordinary session of the Diet, which ends Dec. 9. At a meeting on Wednesday, ...
Kochi gubernatorial race seen as barometer on voter attitudes toward Abe
Kochi Prefecture's gubernatorial election Sunday pitting a ruling coalition-backed candidate against an opponent supported by the main opposition parties is being seen as an important gauge of voter sentiment amid recent scandals that have engulfed Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and on opposition camp unity. Two ...
A fresh scandal blossoms as Abe gets set to become longest-serving prime minister
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe faces fresh allegations that he used the annual cherry blossom-viewing party, a government-sponsored event, to entertain supporters and therefore violated the election law.
LDP might delay talks on constitutional referendum bill to avoid Diet extension that could hurt Abe
The drive to change the process for revising the Constitution is being blunted by fears the opposition will get more time to dig up dirt on Abe’s cherry blossom scandal.
Japan may halve guest list for future cherry-blossom parties as Abe takes flak
The government is considering halving the number of guests invited to future cherry blossom-viewing events as part of a broad review amid allegations that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has used the publicly funded gathering for his own benefit, officials said Thursday. To address growing criticism ...
Abe clears decks for debate on amending Japan's Constitution
When the extraordinary Diet session convenes on Friday, 15 government-sponsored bills are expected to be submitted — one of the lowest totals since Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's second stint started — reflecting his administration's determination to focus its energy on revising the Constitution. But coming ...
Japan's opposition parties struggle to stay on message over consumption tax
Major opposition parties are wary of smaller peers’ calls for the rate to be lowered back to 5 percent, although they are largely unified in opposition to the 10 percent rate.
Japan's opposition parties join forces in bid to counterbalance ruling bloc in Diet
Japan's two major opposition parties agreed on Thursday to join forces in both houses of the Diet in their latest bid to counterbalance the ruling bloc in an upcoming extraordinary Diet session. The agreement to integrate parliamentary groups was reached at a meeting between Constitutional ...
Opposition parties accused Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of favoring his political allies rather than making merit-based appointments in his Cabinet reshuffle Wednesday, while also questioning the timing of the announcement given that parts of Kanto are still recovering from Typhoon Faxai. "It is a Cabinet ...
CDP and DPP to 'join hands' in Japan's Diet in bid to thwart Abe's plans
In a move to counter the ruling bloc, Yukio Edano and Yuichiro Tamaki agreed Tuesday to merge their kaiha parliamentary groups in both houses of the Diet.
Head of Democratic Party for the People seeks constitutional debate not focused on Article 9
The opposition Democratic Party for the People wants to pursue discussions on constitutional reform but the discussion should not focus on the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's four-point proposal that includes changes to war-renouncing Article 9, party head Yuichiro Tamaki has said. In a recent interview, ...
A tug-of-war between the pro- and anti-revision forces has been playing out within the DPP, with leader Yuichiro Tamaki wavering between the two sides.
