To help simplify complex tasks, Diet passes legislation allowing online administrative procedures
The Diet on Friday enacted legislation that enables online administrative procedures in order to enhance residents' convenience by simplifying complex procedures related to events such as changes of address, death and property inheritance. The bill was approved at a plenary meeting of the House of ...
Japan's Finance Ministry proposes cuts to local government workforce as population drops
The Finance Ministry on Wednesday issued a set of proposals on the reform of local finances, including a call for cuts to the number of local government employees in line with the country's shrinking population. According to the package, local governments should streamline clerical duties ...
Journalist sues city of Nagasaki over alleged sexual violence by senior official
A journalist Thursday filed a damages lawsuit against the city of Nagasaki over alleged sexual violence during her newsgathering activities by a senior municipal official, who has since taken his own life. The suit was filed with Nagasaki District Court. She is seeking some ¥35 ...
Abe likely to use upcoming big events to distract Japanese public from election routs, experts say
The Liberal Democratic Party's defeat in two by-elections on Sunday is likely to prompt the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to use upcoming diplomatic events to deflect domestic attention from recent political setbacks, as he looks ahead to a key Upper House election ...
Cosplaying eccentric Mac Akasaka of the Smile Party snags seat in Tokyo ward assembly
He clambers out from under the table, wearing a pink Hooter's tank top while sporting fluffy angel wings and a halo, before bowing deeply toward the camera and taking a seat. "People of Tokyo — have you been smiling lately!?" he says suddenly, breaking into ...
Record six women secure mayor jobs in Japan's local elections, though two won uncontested
A record six women have secured city mayoralty in this year's quadrennial unified local elections. On Sunday, the second and final round of the elections took place. There were mayoral elections in 59 cities (including three prefectural capitals, Mito in Ibaraki Prefecture, Nagasaki and Oita), 11 ...
Youth turnout a worry in Japan's first quadrennial elections under new voting age of 18
The first quadrennial unified local elections to be held after the voting age was lowered to 18 in June 2015 are being hampered by concerns about the youngest voters' low voting rate. Since most are going through important life changes in April, such as entering ...
Is a lack of money behind Japan's drought of local political candidates?
In an Asahi Shimbun editorial published March 30, a week before nationwide elections were held for prefectural and municipal assemblies on April 7, the newspaper fretted about the state of local politics. Usually in such cases, it's voter apathy the media laments, but in this ...
With opposition fractured, LDP bags over half of prefectural seats in first leg of polls
The results show that support for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s party remains firm ahead of the Upper House election set for this summer.
Special celebrations planned for newlyweds on auspicious first day of Japan's new Reiwa era
Local governments are planning something special for those who register their marriage on the first day of the new era, including gifts and commemorative photos, as they prepare for a spike in the number of couples tying the knot on May 1. The start of ...
Municipal mergers, integrated casino resorts, bullet trains and the future of nuclear power plants — local issues with national political repercussions — are expected to be taken up by candidates from Hokkaido to Kyushu in the coming weeks as the country prepares for a ...
Will Japan finally promote its female politicians?
Japan has one of the lowest participation rates of women in national parliaments in the world, but a law is meant to remedy this deficit, even if it includes no enforceable quotas or penalties.
