Tag - ldp

 
 

LDP

Onetime members of a now-defunct faction once led by the late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe are calling for the party to more actively promote conservative policies.
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 17, 2025
Internal battle pits LDP's conservatives against liberals
Some in the party —mainly ex-members of the now-defunct Abe faction — are calling for it to more actively advertise conservative policies.
Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto (left) and U.S. Ambassador to Japan Walter Mondale during a news conference at the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo in April 1996 announcing the decision to return to Japan the site for the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma air station in Okinawa Prefecture
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 17, 2025
Okinawa’s backers in LDP dwindle, prompting concern
At present, not many lawmakers are putting priority on Okinawa after measures taken by the government in the past for the development of the prefecture produced certain results.
LDP lawmaker Koichi Hagiuda
JAPAN
Aug 15, 2025
Secretary of LDP's Hagiuda fined over funds scandal
The 46-year-old secretary, Toshifumi Ushikubo, was ordered to pay ¥300,000.
Lawmakers from both chambers of Japan's parliament who are members of a league of parliamentarians promoting Yasukuni Shrine visits walk inside the shrine in Tokyo on Friday.
JAPAN
Aug 15, 2025
Cabinet ministers Koizumi and Kato visit Yasukuni Shrine
The visits marked the sixth consecutive year a Cabinet minister has visited the war-related shrine on the anniversary.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks during a news conference in Nagasaki on Saturday.
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 14, 2025
Approval for Ishiba Cabinet rises to 27.3%, poll shows
Respondents who think Ishiba should not resign following the ruling party's setback in last month's House of Councilors election slightly outpacing those who think he should.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is considering issuing a formal statement on the 80th anniversary of WWII’s end. There is no shortage of opposition to the idea in his own party.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Aug 14, 2025
Why Ishiba shouldn’t issue a WWII 80th anniversary statement
I’m not saying Japan shouldn’t have apologized, but rather that Japan has sincerely worked to resolve international issues, especially in the past 30 years.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's political survival likely hinges on whether a leadership race will take place within the Liberal Democratic Party following its decision to have its election committee canvass the opinions of party members and prefectural chapters on the subject.
JAPAN / Politics / EXPLAINER
Aug 13, 2025
Will Ishiba's critics be able to garner enough support for a leadership race?
The only way to remove an LDP president from office — other than a resignation — is to invoke the recall clause and hold a leadership race.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks during an LDP plenary meeting in Tokyo on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 9, 2025
Ishiba says he will assess his responsibility based on election review
The LDP plans to release a summary report on the results of last month's election at the end of this month.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks at the Liberal Democratic Party's plenary meeting in Tokyo on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 8, 2025
LDP panel to decide whether to hold party poll that could oust Ishiba
The prime minister, who has long shown a strong appetite to stay in government, has said he will remain despite calls for him to resign.
Top officials from the Farm Ministry bow deeply to apologize for mistakenly saying that Japan has enough rice based on faulty data at a meeting on Aug. 8 at LDP headquarters.
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 8, 2025
Farm ministry apologizes over erroneous rice supply and demand forecasts
The errors came to light when Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba admitted that the government’s miscalculations had led to prices surging in the past year.
Liberal Democratic Party youth division head Yasutaka Nakasone (center) and other members speak to reporters in Tokyo on July 25.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Aug 6, 2025
Will the movement seeking Ishiba’s resignation succeed?
It is unclear whether the core personalities looking to unseat him have what it takes to make that happen.
LDP lawmaker Ken Saito
BUSINESS / Economy
Aug 6, 2025
Japan ruling party heavyweight warns against BOJ rate hike
The remark highlights the political pressure the BOJ could face in resuming rate hikes as higher U.S. levies hurt corporate profits.
Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Taro Kono called for the Bank of Japan to tighten monetary policy to bolster the yen at a time when political leadership is under pressure after the ruling coalition lost its majority in the Upper House in an election last month.
BUSINESS / Economy
Aug 6, 2025
LDP’s Kono adds to chorus urging BOJ to tighten policy
Taro Kono’s remarks come after several prominent executives made similar pleas, though no economists expect a move when the BOJ next sets policy on Sept. 19.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba answers questions from Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan leader Yoshihiko Noda during a Lower House Budget Committee session on Monday.
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 6, 2025
Ruling parties to discuss corporate donation issue with CDP and DPP
Now that the ruling parties are short of a majority in both chambers, the coalition is set to meet halfway with the opposition in an effort to kick-start the stalled debate.
Nippon Ishin no Kai leaders Seiji Maehara (left), Hirofumi Yoshimura (center) and Ryohei Iwatani in the city of Osaka at night of the July 20 Upper House election.
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 5, 2025
Maehara steps down as Nippon Ishin co-leader along with three others
The four resigned to take responsibility for Nippon Ishin’s poor showing in the July 20 Upper House election, creating uncertainties for the party.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks to the press at the Prime Minister's Office on Monday.
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 5, 2025
Ishiba open to delivering message to mark 80th anniversary of WWII's end
His predecessors had issued official statements approved by the Cabinet during the 50th, 60th and 70th anniversaries.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (left) and Economic Revitalization Minister and chief tariff negotiator Ryosei Akazawa attend a budget committee session on the U.S. tariff issue in the Lower House in Tokyo on Monday.
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 4, 2025
Opposition parties fume over U.S. trade deal not being put in writing
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said issuing a joint document with the U.S. will not serve the nation’s interests and may instead jeopardize the agreement.
Nippon Ishin no Kai co-leader Seiji Maehara speaks at a party plenary meeting in Tokyo on Thursday.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Aug 4, 2025
Nippon Ishin no Kai could join ruling coalition, if the conditions are right
The party might be open to joining if there is a new prime minister and Osaka is designated as Japan's backup capital, its leaders say.
Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Koichi Hagiuda
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Aug 4, 2025
Summary indictment eyed for secretary of LDP's Koichi Hagiuda
A panel of citizens ruled that the secretary of Hagiuda, a member of the House of Representatives, should be prosecuted.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba walks toward the Upper House hall to attend the opening ceremony of a parliamentary session in Tokyo on Thursday.
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 3, 2025
Ishiba unlikely to make personal statement on WWII anniversary
A personal statement by Ishiba, who is viewed as relatively dovish, could intensify the calls for his resignation that have emerged inside the LDP.

Longform

Members of the nonprofit group Japan Youth Memorial Association search for the remains of dead soldiers in a cave in Okinawa Prefecture in February.
The long search for Japan’s lost soldiers