National / Politics Dec 29, 2021
More than 170 planning to run in Japan's 2022 Upper House election
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida aims to have his ruling coalition maintain its majority in the poll, to help pave the way for a long stay in power.
National Jan 12, 2016
Administration looks to let people vote in major train stations, other high-traffic locations
Hoping to raise voter turnout, the Abe administration plans to allow people to cast their ballots at major train stations and commercial complexes, according to a government source. The administration will try to get the necessary change to the public offices election law by the ...
Basketball Dec 8, 2015
Politicians launch support group for new men's basketball circuit
by Kaz Nagatsuka
A group of nearly two dozen Diet members launched a basketball-supporting parliamentarians' association and held its kickoff meeting on Tuesday at the members' office buildings of the House of Councilors in Tokyo's Nagatacho district. The members include some influential politicians, such as Taro Aso, a ...
National / Politics Nov 22, 2013
The Upper House passed a resolution Friday to prohibit member Antonio Inoki from attending the Diet for 30 days as punishment for visiting North Korea without the chamber's permission. The disciplinary action, endorsed by both the ruling and opposition camps, was the first of its ...
Issues | JUST BE CAUSE Aug 5, 2013
Ol' blue eyes isn't back: Tsurunen's tale offers lessons in microcosm for DPJ
by Debito Arudou
Spare a thought for Marutei Tsurunen, Japan's first European-born naturalized immigrant parliamentarian, who was voted out in last month's House of Councilors election.