National / Politics Jul 29, 2017
Edano officially throws hat into DP leadership race
Former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano announces he will run in the election to succeed Renho as president of the Democratic Party.
National / Politics Mar 9, 2016
New opposition party expected to push constitutional change without prioritizing Article 9
A new opposition party to be launched March 27 through a merger between the Democratic Party of Japan and Ishin-no-To (Japan Innovation Party) will uphold constitutionalism and envisage a "future-oriented constitution" that matches with time, lawmakers of the two parties said Tuesday. Citing a draft ...
National / Politics | ANALYSIS Jan 28, 2016
Lackluster polls, maneuvering by LDP may give DPJ a drubbing in July election
by Reiji Yoshida and Tomohiro Osaki
The Democratic Party of Japan is in the throes of an identity crisis, a fact not lost on delegates meeting for the party's annual convention Saturday in Tokyo. The support rate for the DPJ, once considered a viable alternative to the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, ...
National Jan 24, 2016
Opposition makes plans to grill economy chief Amari
The Democratic Party of Japan plans to urge embattled economy minister Akira Amari to clarify graft allegations made against him in a tabloid magazine.
National / Politics Nov 12, 2015
DPJ on the rocks amid calls for merger with Ishin no To
by Mizuho Aoki
Japan's largest opposition party appears to be in danger of falling apart as some core members demand it merge with Ishin no To (Japan Innovation Party).
National / Politics Oct 14, 2015
Opposition contests chaotic Upper House vote, assails LDP for amending record of events
by Mizuho Aoki
Was the vote valid? The chairman's voice was lost amid yelling by opposition lawmakers as he declared the passage of controversial security bills through the Upper House in a special committee session last month. And the shouting is still ongoing, as the opposition camp accuses the ...
Commentary / Japan | SENTAKU MAGAZINE Jun 24, 2015
The pathetic state of the DPJ
With the opposition camp, notably the DPJ, in tatters, everything is working to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's advantage.
National / Social Issues May 22, 2015
First Japanese bill outlawing racism, hate speech submitted to Upper House
by Tomohiro Osaki
A group of lawmakers made history Friday by submitting a bill to the Upper House that would outlaw racism and hate speech. Sponsored by lawmakers from the Democratic Party of Japan and Social Democratic Party, the bill would prohibit all forms of racial discrimination, including ...
National / Politics Mar 1, 2015
DPJ vows at convention to hold firm against Abe's security legislation
The Democratic Party of Japan pledged to stand firm against the government's security legislation in the Diet as it held its party convention in Tokyo on Sunday. In adopting an action plan, the main opposition party also lashed out at "Abenomics," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ...
Commentary / Japan | SENTAKU MAGAZINE Feb 24, 2015
DPJ's shadow leader stays put
Can new leader Katsuya Okada change the Democratic Party of Japan's losing ways?
Commentary | COUNTERPOINT Jan 24, 2015
Can the DPJ reinvigorate Japanese democracy?
by Jeff Kingston
Columbia University's Gerald Curtis recently wrote, "It is a sad commentary on Japan's politics that after nearly 70 years of democracy a competitive party system has all but disintegrated." The Democratic Party of Japan is a culprit in this disintegration and slim hopes for a ...
Editorials Jan 19, 2015
Okada has his work cut out
Katsuya Okada, the new leader of the Democratic Party of Japan, had better set a clear policy direction for Japan's largest opposition party if he hopes to have it come back from its 2012 fall from power.