Tag - ldp

 
 

LDP

As horse-trading and speculation surge over  who will be elected the next prime minister in parliament — the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's Sanae Takaichi or a possible candidate put forward by a unified opposition — Japan’s next leader will be confronted with a quick succession of key diplomatic events.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Oct 13, 2025
A frenetic diplomatic schedule looms for Japan’s next leader — whomever that may be
Japanese diplomacy has landed in a precarious position following the exit of Komeito from the LDP-led ruling bloc as a spate of summits and meetings loom at the end of this month.
Komeito leader Tetsuo Saito speaks at a news conference in Tokyo on Friday after leaving the ruling coalition earlier in the day.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 12, 2025
After ruling bloc collapses, LDP and opposition scramble to find needed votes for PM
New LDP President Sanae Takaichi faces a higher hurdle in finding the votes needed to become Japan’s next leader as opposition forces discuss a unified candidate.
A screen outside a Tokyo securities firm shows the Nikkei 225 Stock Average on Oct. 6. As Japan's financial markets reacted to Sanae Takaichi's Liberal Democratic Party presidential win, much of the media's focus was on the falling yen, downplaying the surge in equities to record highs.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Oct 12, 2025
Sanae Takaichi gets 'the Abe treatment'
Given that she is frequently labeled a "Shinzo Abe protege," the media coverage of her so far reminds me of how they reported on Abe himself throughout his second term.
Liberal Democratic Party President Sanae Takaichi enters party headquarters in Tokyo on Thursday.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Oct 11, 2025
Why Japan's coalition collapsed — and what's next
In an upcoming vote in parliament, all parties are expected to put forward their leaders in a first round of voting, with LDP chief Sanae Takaichi likely bound for a runoff.
Ichiro Ozawa (left), leader of the Liberal Party, Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi (center) and Takenori Kanzaki, leader of Komeito, hold hands ahead of a three-party summit toward forming a coalition government, at the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo in October 1999.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Oct 11, 2025
LDP-Komeito coalition marked by twists and turns over 26 years
The two parties have been in a mutually dependent relationship centered on electoral cooperation.
Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan leader Yoshihiko Noda speaks to reporters at the Diet in Tokyo on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 11, 2025
After ruling bloc breakup, CDP and Komeito eye unified PM candidate
The move comes as the Democratic Party for the People appears no longer willing to hold coalition talks with the LDP, putting new ruling party chief Sanae Takaichi in a tough spot.
LDP leader Sanae Takaichi and Komeito leader Tetsuo Saito attend a party leaders' meeting on Friday in Tokyo.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 10, 2025
Takaichi's PM bid faces further headwinds with coalition split
Komeito’s decision to end the 26-year partnership with the LDP means the ruling party will need to court opposition parties to vote Takaichi in as prime minister.
Less than a week ago, Sanae Takaichi seemed set to become Japan's first female prime minister.
BUSINESS / Markets
Oct 10, 2025
‘Takaichi trade’ starts unwinding as political calculus upended by Komeito exit
Stocks fell and the yen rose after the coalition collapsed
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba holds a news conference in Tokyo on Friday to deliver his statement on World War II
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 10, 2025
Ishiba statement explores Japan's failure to avoid World War II
Ishiba’s message was released in a personal capacity, without the formal approval of his entire Cabinet.
Atomic bomb survivors from Nihon Hidankyo making a request to each party at the office building of House of Councilors lawmakers in Tokyo on Thursday.
JAPAN
Oct 10, 2025
Cross-party group for nuclear abolition to be set up in Japan
Nihon Hidankyo members criticized the government for ignoring the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and refusing to send an observer to a meeting of signatories.
Newly elected Liberal Democratic Party President Sanae Takaichi is often compared to Margaret Thatcher, but the analogy fails because Japan today is not 1980s Britain and her success depends on pragmatism, not ideology.
EDITORIALS
Oct 10, 2025
Pragmatism, not ideology, must guide Takaichi
The key difference from Thatcher lies in economic policy, as the LDP has never been a truly neoliberal party.
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party has appointed Itsunori Onodera as chairman of its Research Commission on the Tax System.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 10, 2025
Onodera to head LDP's tax panel
Onodera will succeed Yoichi Miyazawa, who has served as chairman of the tax panel for a total of eight years since 2015.
Democratic Party for the People leader Yuichiro Tamaki speaks during an interview on Thursday at the parliament building.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 10, 2025
DPP leader Tamaki negative on joining LDP-led coalition for now
The DPP chief noted that his party would not form a coalition with the LDP if it lacks Komeito.
Tokyo stocks have been rallying in recent months even as uncertainties build locally and globally.
BUSINESS / Markets
Oct 9, 2025
Buzz builds for a 50,000 Nikkei 225 as index breaks yet another record
Benchmark has hit nine all-time highs in about six weeks.
Komeito head Tetsuo Saito and the party's executives (left) meet with the LDP's Sanae Takaichi and counterparts in Tokyo on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 9, 2025
LDP and Komeito's shaky ties throw doubt on Takaichi becoming prime minister
The inability of the LDP and Komeito to forge a quick agreement and vote for Takaichi to become prime minister has created uncertainty at a busy time on the political calendar.
Liberal Democratic Party President Sanae Takaichi speaks to reporters a the party headquarters in Tokyo on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 9, 2025
Jiji Press photographer reprimanded for improper remarks at LDP
Audio of the remarks was recorded during a live online broadcast, and the recording quickly went viral on social media.
Set to become first husband, former Lower House lawmaker Taku Yamamoto is supportive of Sanae Takaichi potentially becoming prime minister despite the political circumstances surrounding the Liberal Democratic Party.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Oct 9, 2025
Takaichi taking office will herald arrival of Japan’s first-ever first husband
Former LDP Lower House lawmaker Taku Yamamoto has supported Sanae Takaichi’s position on surnames after marriage and her bid to lead Japan.
Komeito leader Tetsuo Saito (left) and LDP counterpart Sanae Takaichi meet in Tokyo on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Oct 8, 2025
After 26 years, Komeito may be showing signs it will break with LDP
Komeito not immediately endorsing Takaichi reflects deep concerns among Soka Gakkai members, the party’s main supporters in the lay Buddhist group, about her ideology and policies.
Sanae Takaichi, Japan’s first female prime minister if appointed, will have her work cut out for her and face key diplomatic challenges with the U.S., China and South Korea, as well as persistent economic and demographic issues.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Oct 8, 2025
Will Takaichi become the prime minister Japan needs?
An admirer of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Takaichi is an adherent to Shinzo Abe’s pragmatic yet conservative vision.
Sanae Takaichi, the newly elected leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, speaks during a news conference after the LDP presidential election in Tokyo on Saturday.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 8, 2025
Lawyers protest Takaichi's 'work like workhorses' remarks
The group is led by Hiroshi Kawahito, a lawyer who represented the family of an employee of major advertising agency Dentsu who committed suicide due apparently to overwork.

Longform

Bear attacks have dominated Japanese news headlines in recent months, with 13 people so far having been killed by the animals.
Japan’s bears have been on their killing spree for more than 100 years