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LDP

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba takes part in a debate with leaders of seven other political parties at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on Wednesday.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jul 4, 2025
Sizing up the forthcoming Upper House election
Given all that is taking place, this is shaping up to be one of the most unusual Upper House elections in decades.
Supporters of candidates put up campaign posters on a bulletin board in Tokyo on Thursday, as the official campaigning for the July 20 Upper House election begins. 
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jul 4, 2025
The dilemma facing Japan’s rising (and falling) populist parties
A working relationship with ruling parties is key to achieving their policy goals, but at the risk of losing their populist brand and voters.
People listen to an election campaign speech in Miyazaki Prefecture on Thursday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 3, 2025
Ishiba government’s survival may be at stake in July Upper House election
Election campaigning for the pivotal vote officially kicked off Thursday, with all eyes on how the ruling Liberal Democratic Party-Komeito coalition will perform.
Opposition parties are proposing a consumption tax cut as inflation, especially food inflation, remains high.
BUSINESS / Economy / FOCUS
Jul 2, 2025
Consumption tax cut enters political conversation ahead of Upper House election
The Liberal Democratic Party opposes a reduction in the tax, but opposition parties are in favor of a cut.
Among Cabinet members, Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato was the top earner, at ¥225.93 million.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 30, 2025
Lawmakers' average income flat at ¥25.13 million
Four lawmakers earned over ¥100 million, and all of them were LDP members.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks at a conference in Tokyo on Sunday.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Jun 30, 2025
Party leaders skeptical of three-party ruling coalition after Upper House vote
If the ruling coalition wins fewer than 50 seats, it will either need to work with at least one opposition party for each piece of legislation or invite one to join.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba addresses a news conference in Tokyo last Monday. Ishiba said that he will do his utmost to ensure the Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner Komeito secures an overall majority in the upper house of parliament when voters head to the polls in July.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 29, 2025
Ishiba cautious about expanding ruling coalition
At a conference hosted by a private policy proposal group, Ishiba also expressed support for the idea of establishing a nonpartisan consultative body on social security reform.
Liberal Democratic Party Secretary-General Hiroshi Moriyama speaks during an interview in Tokyo on Thursday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 28, 2025
LDP to discuss governance plans after Upper House election, Moriyama says
During this year's ordinary parliament session, the ruling coalition secured the passage of some bills through partial alliances with opposition parties.
A voter takes a photograph of a candidate running for a Tokyo assembly seat, in Tokyo on June 21.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Jun 27, 2025
Lawmaker hints at new social media regulations as misinformation taints elections
Under a new law, social media sites can remove posts defaming political candidates if creators don't respond within two days, but lawmakers say that's too long.
Voters in the Upper House election in July 2022
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Jun 26, 2025
Upper House election date falling on a three-day weekend sparks debate
The July 20 election falls on a Sunday that is also the second day of a three-day holiday weekend, when many people are likely to plan for trips and outings.
Liberal Democratic Party policy chief Itsunori Onodera (right) announces its campaign pledges for the Upper House election at the party's headquarters in Tokyo on Thursday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 25, 2025
Over 470 gearing up to run in Japan's Upper House election
Opposition parties are expected to fight over Upper House seats in over half of the 32 constituencies where one seat each is up for grabs.
The Liberal Democratic Party's Tokyo chapter head, Shinji Inoue (right), at the party's headquarters on Sunday night
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Jun 23, 2025
Tokyo election results signal uncertainty for LDP ahead of Upper House race
“It was a very tough election,” said Shinji Inoue, head of the LDP’s Tokyo chapter, early on Monday morning after the results came in.
A banner announcing the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election is displayed at Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Tokyo on Saturday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 23, 2025
Koike-backed party gains seats as LDP dealt setback in Tokyo assembly poll
Tomin First no Kai (Tokyoites First), supported by Koike as a special adviser, remained the biggest party, taking 31 seats, up from 26.
An opposition-sponsored gasoline tax cut bill is discussed in the Upper House finance committee on Saturday morning, a day before the ordinary session of parliament ends Sunday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 21, 2025
Parliament session wraps up as Upper House skips vote on gas tax bill
On Saturday, the Upper House Committee on Financial Affairs met to discuss the bill, but the meeting ended without a vote.
The Upper House during a plenary session in Tokyo on Wednesday
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Jun 20, 2025
Ishiba handles minority government well over the six-month session
With parliamentary business concluding, all eyes are on next month’s Upper House election.
Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and their daughter Princess Aiko visit the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum in Itoman on June 4.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Jun 19, 2025
Parties are still arguing about the rules on imperial succession
Allowing female members to remain royalty after marriage, starting a maternal lineage, adoptions — there are a slew of ideas but a shortage of answers.
The Liberal Democratic Party’s pledges ahead of the Upper House election are in sharp contrast to those of the opposition parties, which have all promised tax cuts in various degrees.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 19, 2025
LDP pledges cash handouts and a better economy ahead of Upper House vote
“Driving Japan forward, enriching lives” will be the ruling party’s campaign slogan as it prepares for the upcoming Upper House election.
Tatsunori Ibayashi, a Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker who was removed from his post as Lower House finance committee chair, reacts after a motion of dismissal against him cleared the chamber on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 18, 2025
In a first, Lower House opposition parties unite to dismiss finance committee chair
Yukihiko Akutsu, a Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker, was chosen hours later to replace the chair in an election in the Lower House.
An Upper House plenary session earlier this month. The Upper House election is likely to take place on July 20.
JAPAN
Jun 14, 2025
Upper House election likely to take place July 20
Whether the CDP will submit a no-confidence motion against the Ishiba Cabinet is set to be the main focus in the closing days of the current parliamentary session.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks to reporters last month in Tokyo.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 13, 2025
Ishiba pledges cash handout for all citizens ahead of election
The handout would be ¥20,000 per person and an additional ¥20,000 would be added on top of that per child or low-income earner, Ishiba said.

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