National / Politics Apr 6, 2016
Diet approves setting up polling stations at railway stations, shopping malls
A law allowing voters to cast ballots in national and local elections at booths in train stations and commercial complexes gets passed.
National Jan 12, 2016
Administration looks to let people vote in major train stations, other high-traffic locations
Hoping to raise voter turnout, the Abe administration plans to allow people to cast their ballots at major train stations and commercial complexes, according to a government source. The administration will try to get the necessary change to the public offices election law by the ...
National / Politics Oct 19, 2015
New Okinawa minister denies 2010 calendar violated election law
Aiko Shimajiri, appointed minister in charge of Okinawa issues in the Oct. 7 Cabinet reshuffle, is denying that distributing a calendar bearing her name and head shot was a violation of the election law. About a year ago, Midori Matsushima was forced to step down ...
National / Politics Jun 17, 2015
Diet enacts law lowering voting age to 18 from 20
The move represents the biggest reform of Japan’s electoral laws in 70 years, and an attempt to encourage younger voters to be more politically active.
National / Politics Jun 4, 2015
House of Representatives passes bill to lower voting age
by Mizuho Aoki
The legislation to reduce the minimum voting age to 18 from 20 will enfranchise some 2.4 million 18- and 19-year-olds ahead of next year's House of Councilors election.
National / Crime & Legal Jun 2, 2014
Ex-Your Party head Watanabe faces criminal complaint
Members of an Osaka civic group file a criminal complaint against former Your Party leader Yoshimi Watanabe over ¥500 million in dubious loans that made him step down.
National / Crime & Legal Mar 25, 2014
Prosecutors poised to charge ex-Tokyo Gov. Inose over funds
Prosecutors are poised to charge former Tokyo Gov. Naoki Inose at a summary court with failure to report election funds over ¥50 million he received from a major hospital chain, sources said Tuesday. Inose, 67, has repeatedly said the money given by Tokushukai was a ...
Editorials Mar 24, 2013
Upholding the right to vote
The Tokyo District Court declares unconstitutional an election law provision that strips voting rights from adults who've had guardians chosen for them.