Tag - lower-house

 
 

LOWER HOUSE

The Tokyo headquarters of the Unification Church in Shibuya Ward
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Dec 13, 2023
Japan enacts law to monitor Unification Church assets
The special legislation is designed to ensure that victims of the organization's malpractices have a source of relief.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks to reporters at the Prime Minister's Office on Monday.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 20, 2023
Kishida’s support rate hits new lows in three major polls
Polls by three major newspapers — the Yomiuri, Asahi and Mainichi — showed Kishida’s support rate at 24%, 25% and 21%, respectively.
Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida take part in a news conference in September 2021 in the lead-up to the Liberal Democratic Party presidential race.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Nov 15, 2023
Takaichi makes another play to become the next PM
With the creation of a new study group, Cabinet minister Sanae Takaichi aims to build support for her bid for the top political job.
Ichiro Ozawa (third from right) with other members of parliament at a ceremony to launch a new party in Tokyo in July 2012.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 15, 2023
Ichiro Ozawa is once again looking for a way to defeat the LDP
The octogenarian political veteran is looking to cap his long career with another successful drive to defeat the ruling LDP at the polls.
Hiroyuki Hosoda is elected as Lower House Speaker in November 2021.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 10, 2023
Former Lower House speaker and LDP heavyweight Hiroyuki Hosoda dies
The seasoned lawmaker served in key posts in the government and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, including as chief Cabinet secretary.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishda speaks to reporters in Tokyo on Thursday.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 9, 2023
Kishida rules out snap election amid record low popularity
The prime minister has once again ruled out a snap election as he faces record low popularity ratings and growing criticism from within his own party.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida attends an extraordinary session at the Lower House of parliament in Tokyo on Oct. 23.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Oct 31, 2023
Prime Minister Kishida and a month of misery
The challenges Fumio Kishida faces are eroding confidence in his leadership and are likely to influence policy decision-making.
Hajime Hirota is lifted up after winning the Upper House seat in the Kochi-Tokushima district by election Sunday in the city of Kochi.
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Oct 23, 2023
In blow to Kishida, LDP loses one of two seats in by-elections
An independent candidate backed by the opposition won in the Tokushima-Kochi Lower House race, while the LDP pick won in the Nagasaki Upper House poll.
Voters fill out ballots for an Upper House by-election in the Tokushima-Kochi district, in the city of Kochi on Sunday morning.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 22, 2023
Voting kicks off in key parliamentary by-elections
The polls are the first national contests since Prime Minister Fumio Kishida revamped his Cabinet last month in a bid to bolster his government.
Newly elected Lower House Speaker Fukushiro Nukaga
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 20, 2023
Former finance minister elected as Lower House speaker
The 79-year-old Fukushiro Nukaga, a 13-term Diet member and former finance minister, was chosen, replacing Hiroyuki Hosoda.
Voters listen to a speech by a candidate in the Tokushima-Kochi Upper House district in the city of Kochi on Saturday.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 18, 2023
Upcoming by-elections first test of Kishida’s new Cabinet
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida faces his first electoral test after making Cabinet and Liberal Democratic Party leadership changes last month.
Defense Minister Minoru Kihara speaks during a meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin at the Pentagon in Washington on Oct. 4.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 16, 2023
Defense chief retracts comments implying LDP vote would be good for SDF
Article 61 of the Self-Defense Forces Law explicitly forbids SDF personnel from engaging in political activity, with the exception of voting.
Fukushiro Nukaga
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 13, 2023
LDP to recommend former finance minister as Lower House speaker
Fukushiro Nukaga, 79, is expected to take over for Hiroyuki Hosoda when parliament resumes next week.
Voters gather as a candidate in the Nagasaki No. 4 Lower House by-election kicks off his campaign in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 10, 2023
Campaigning starts for Lower House by-election in southwest Japan
Two by-elections set for Oct. 22 will be the first since Kishida revamped his Cabinet last month in an attempt to refresh his government's image.
Yuichiro Tamaki, head of the Democratic Party for the People, speaks to reporters in the Diet building on Thursday.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 9, 2023
Japan opposition DPP to launch new supporter system
A new lump-sum fee will allow 'special members' to get involved more deeply in the party's management and activities.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is unlikely to call a snap election by the end of the year, sources say.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 7, 2023
Kishida unlikely to call snap election this year, sources say
Instead, the prime minister is expected to focus on the passage of a supplementary budget aimed at curbing the effects of price hikes.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida attends a news conference after his Cabinet reshuffle in Tokyo on Sept. 13.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 2, 2023
Late fall emerges as possible timing for snap election in Japan
A decision on a snap poll could be determined by debate over an economic stimulus package and a supplementary budget bill to pay for it.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks to reporters in Tokyo on Friday.
JAPAN
Sep 29, 2023
Kishida not considering snap poll as parliament prepares to return
Parliament will convene for an extraordinary session on Oct. 20, with stimulus measures at the top of Kishida's agenda.
Masatoshi Akimoto asks questions at a Lower House budget committee session in February 2022.
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 27, 2023
Ex-LDP member's indictment puts spotlight on green energy goals
A Lower House member and the former president of a major offshore wind-power company were each charged with bribery by Tokyo prosecutors.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during a news conference on the sidelines of the 78th United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters in New York on Sept. 20.
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 27, 2023
Lack of political timetable fuels Japan snap election speculation
The ruling and opposition parties are watching for the possibility of a Lower House breakup at the start of an extraordinary Diet session this autumn.

Longform

When trying to trace your lineage in Japan, the "koseki" is the most important form of document you'll encounter.
Climbing the branches of a Japanese family tree