Simple, serious and fatal mistakes in politics
When it comes to rational, sophisticated and consistent policymaking, dictators like China's Xi Jinping, Russia's Vladimir Putin and Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan have the advantage.
How to make politics a creative and attractive vocation
Most Japanese people don't want to become politicians because the job lacks creativity.
Why voters keep supporting politicians who keep lying
Experiments indicate that people will overlook dishonesty if it benefits their group.
Japan urged to up ranks of female politicians to reach U.N. sustainable development goals
To help meet the United Nations' 2030 sustainable development goal for gender equality and empowering all women and girls, Japan needs more female politicians, especially at the local level. That was one of the recommendations civil society leaders and residents in the Kansai region discussed ...
Assets held by members of Japan's House of Representatives sink to record-low ¥29 million
House of Representatives lawmakers held a record-low average of ¥29.17 million ($274,000) in assets, according to a tally based on data they released Monday after the 2017 snap election. The data cover financial assets, land and property held by members of the Lower House who ...
Japanese lawmaker sparks nationwide debate by taking her baby to work
A female politician's decision to bring her baby to an assembly session to highlight the difficulties faced by working mothers is drawing support on Twitter, with users saying they don't mind if people take their children to the workplace. The use of the hashtag #KozurekaigiOK, ...
In stagnant Japan, Diet members' incomes rose to an average of ¥24 million in 2016
National lawmakers earned ¥24.12 million ($214,600) on average last year, up 6.3 percent from 2015, due partly to an increase in compensation, data from the Diet showed Monday. The top earner was Upper House member Keizo Takemi of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, who reported ...
New website to help track Diet members' money trails
An Osaka-based nonprofit organization has announced it will create an online group dedicated to letting any member of the public follow politicians’ money trails.
Why are some politicians impervious to facts?
Many politicians make innaccurate statements, and most people can't be bothered to question them.
54% of assemblywomen uncomfortable with counterparts' sexist acts
A nationwide survey of assemblywomen said Friday that just over 54 percent of female lawmakers feel uncomfortable when exposed to sexist acts, remarks or verbal abuse from assemblymen. "Such sex discrimination has been a major obstacle for women seeking assembly membership as well as for ...
Prosecutors drop cases against ex-minister Matsushima, ex-Your Party head Watanabe
Tokyo prosecutors decided Wednesday not to indict former Justice Minister Midori Matsushima and Yoshimi Watanabe, the former head of the now-defunct Your Party, for allegedly violating election law and other laws. The prosecutors dropped the case against Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Matsushima, who resigned as ...
Over 80% of incoming Lower House members back amending Constitution
More than 80 percent of the winning candidates in Sunday's election approve of amending the Constitution, far exceeding the two-thirds majority required to propose a constitutional amendment for a national referendum.
