National / Politics Nov 5, 2020
Lone vote for female lawmaker in PM race was gesture of hope
Despite Yoshihide Suga's victory in the recent vote for prime minister being a done deal, Takae Ito was recognized through the admiration of a colleague.
National / Politics Oct 26, 2020
Bolder domestic vision in Suga’s Diet speech, but diplomacy unchanged
by Satoshi Sugiyama
The prime minister recited a laundry list of projects on which he is eager to deliver, while relying on strategies he inherited to set out foreign policy.
National / Politics | FOCUS Oct 25, 2020
Science panel controversy overshadows Suga’s Diet debut
by Satoshi Sugiyama
The session will likely see a fierce showdown between an experienced power-broker with his own policy ambitions and opposition parties determined to grill the new leader.
National / Politics Sep 14, 2020
Top Japanese opposition party's No. 2 to stay in post after merger
Tetsuro Fukuyama formerly served under party leader Yukio Edano when the latter was chief Cabinet secretary.
National / Politics Sep 10, 2020
Yukio Edano elected chief of new CDP, Japan’s top opposition party
by Eric Johnston
In his acceptance speech, Edano called on the ruling coalition to hold an extraordinary Diet session this autumn, citing the need to discuss virus-related bills.
National / Politics Sep 7, 2020
Leadership race for Japan's new main opposition party starts
Two contestants are in the running for the top job in the new group, a merger of two existing parties.
National / Politics Sep 1, 2020
Head of merged party to be elected Sept. 10, Japan's CDP and DPP announce
The name of the new opposition party will be decided the same day, with the party's inaugural convention set to be held the following week.
National / Politics Aug 31, 2020
Yukio Edano projected to head Japan's new merged opposition party
It is expected that the current CDP chief will face one opponent to prevent him taking the post without a contest.
Commentary / Japan Aug 20, 2020
Why Japan's opposition parties falter
by Michael MacArthur Bosack
Coalescing a viable opposition is not as simple as combining parties.
National / Politics Aug 19, 2020
Japan's DPP approves CDP merger as snap poll speculation grows
by Satoshi Sugiyama
The merger creates a more organized and numerically viable opposition force to counter Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ruling bloc amid speculation of a possible snap election.
National / Reference | FYI Aug 19, 2020
New political party set to become Japan’s largest opposition force
by Eric Johnston
The new group, likely to count around 150 lawmakers as members, could pose a serious challenge to the ruling coalition between the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito.
Business Aug 17, 2020
Japan lawmakers seek extra parliamentary session after GDP collapse
Japan's seasonally adjusted GDP in April-June fell a real 27.8% from the previous quarter on an annualized basis — the sharpest drop in the postwar period.