National Dec 4, 2020
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, the LDP president who took office in September, took the 28th spot with ¥112.26 million.
National / Politics Sep 15, 2020
For Japan's new Constitutional Democratic Party, the hard work starts now
by Eric Johnston
As the largest opposition party formally kicks off it faces no shortage of challenges, including corralling established figures not accustomed to being on the same side.
Issues | LAW OF THE LAND Jun 18, 2020
Much ado about retirement ages and Japan's politicized bureaucracy
by Colin P.A. Jones
The scandal surrounding top prosecutor Hiromu Kurokawa has kicked off a debate on retirement ages and interference in Japan's civil service.
Reference | FYI Apr 30, 2020
LDP secretary-general: The power behind the PM
by Eric Johnston
Those in the position are de facto the most powerful person within the party after its president.
Reference | FYI Feb 23, 2020
The Japanese Communist Party's quest to unify a shattered opposition
by Eric Johnston
Last month, for the first time in 16 years, the Japanese Communist Party met to revise its basic political program. Part of the reason was that the party hopes a change of rhetoric, at least, will make it easier to form an opposition coalition ...
National Jan 6, 2020
Suicide suspected as body of ex-DPJ lawmaker Yukiko Miyake found on Tokyo beach
Former Lower House lawmaker Yukiko Miyake was found dead in Tokyo several days ago, with police suspecting she might have killed herself, investigative sources said Monday. Public broadcaster NHK said her family had reported her missing to police late last month, and that officers had ...
National / History | Heisei Icons Feb 19, 2019
Ichiro Ozawa: The kingmaker and destroyer in Japanese politics
by Reiji Yoshida
Reformer, kingmaker, shadow shogun, destroyer. With so many labels, no politician stands out like Ichiro Ozawa among Japan's conformist legislators.
National / Politics Jan 24, 2019
Ichiro Ozawa may be on verge of comeback as Japan's DPP and Liberal parties form joint Diet group
by Reiji Yoshida
One of Japan's most influential and divisive political figures in recent decades may be staging another comeback. On Thursday, Liberal Party leader Ichiro Ozawa and Yuichiro Tamaki, head of the Democratic Party for the People, met at the Diet, where they agreed to form a ...
Issues | LAW OF THE LAND Dec 4, 2016
Japan's Board of Audit: unlikely guardians of the Constitution?
by Colin P.A. Jones
As well as uncovering government waste, the bean counters have pushed back — politely — over state secret exemptions.
National / Politics Oct 13, 2016
Liberal Party is reborn in Seikatsu no To rebranding ahead of possible election
by Reiji Yoshida
Seikatsu no To (People's Life Party) has rebranded itself as the Liberal Party, adopting the name of a recently defunct conservative party in a bid to lure right-of-center voters away from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. The party registered its name change at the internal ...
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 ...
National / Politics | DECISION 2014 Dec 15, 2014
Ozawa keeps hope for regime change alive
by Masaaki Kameda
Diet heavyweight Ichiro Ozawa, leader of Seikatsu no To (People's Life Party), admitted Monday that the opposition camp failed to give voters an alternative to the ruling bloc in the Lower House election but stressed that change is still possible if they join hands. "The ...