Big-name Japanese politicians chopped down to size in Lower House poll
Sunday’s election saw a number of well-known lawmakers lose in their districts, with a handful regaining seats in the lower chamber via the proportional representation system.
Shadow of a shogun: Ichiro Ozawa loses in district for first time
The onetime "shadow shogun," a skilled strategist and political operator, was arguably Japan’s most consequential and divisive politician during the Heisei Era.
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, the LDP president who took office in September, took the 28th spot with ¥112.26 million.
For Japan's new Constitutional Democratic Party, the hard work starts now
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.
Much ado about retirement ages and Japan's politicized bureaucracy
The scandal surrounding top prosecutor Hiromu Kurokawa has kicked off a debate on retirement ages and interference in Japan's civil service.
LDP secretary-general: The power behind the PM
Those in the position are de facto the most powerful person within the party after its president.
The Japanese Communist Party's quest to unify a shattered opposition
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 ...
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 ...
Ichiro Ozawa: The kingmaker and destroyer in Japanese politics
Reformer, kingmaker, shadow shogun, destroyer. With so many labels, no politician stands out like Ichiro Ozawa among Japan's conformist legislators.
Ichiro Ozawa may be on verge of comeback as Japan's DPP and Liberal parties form joint Diet group
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 ...
Japan's Board of Audit: unlikely guardians of the Constitution?
As well as uncovering government waste, the bean counters have pushed back — politely — over state secret exemptions.
Liberal Party is reborn in Seikatsu no To rebranding ahead of possible election
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 ...
