National / Politics Feb 14, 2019
Campaign kicks off for Okinawa referendum on U.S. base relocation plan
by Eric Johnston
The voter turnout rate is crucial to how the results of the referendum will be perceived in Tokyo and Washington.
NEWSWORTHY
National / Politics Dec 24, 2018
Osaka mayor and governor may quit to force early poll in bid to realize dream of metro government
The proposal to reorganize the government had already been put to a municipal referendum in 2015 but was rejected by voters.
National Dec 21, 2018
Three Okinawa city assemblies vote against referendum-related budgets
The assemblies of three cities in Okinawa Prefecture on Thursday voted down their respective draft supplementary budgets including funds to cover costs for administrative work related to a planned prefectural referendum on a U.S. base relocation plan. The three cities are Ginowan, Okinawa and Uruma. ...
National / Politics Nov 27, 2018
Constitutional referendum would unleash TV blitz never before seen in Japan
by Tomohiro Osaki
If Japan ever calls a referendum on whether to revise the postwar Constitution, it could spark a heated TV advertising war, akin to what the U.S. goes through for its presidential election campaigns. The national referendum law as it now stands in principle enables anyone ...
National / Politics Nov 19, 2018
In country's first name-change referendum, Sasayama voters back renaming city as Tamba-Sasayama
The city of Sasayama in Hyogo Prefecture will be changing its name to Tamba-Sasayama as early as next May following what city officials described as the country's first referendum on changing a municipality's name. Sunday's referendum passed with a margin of 3,128, with 13,646 voting ...
World / Politics Oct 20, 2018
Thousands take to streets in London and demand second Brexit vote be held
Tens of thousands of supporters of the European Union began marching through London on Saturday as part of what organizers say will be the biggest-ever demonstration to demand that the British government hold a public vote on the terms of Brexit. The protesters waved the ...
World / Social Issues Sep 23, 2018
In referendum, voters in second Swiss canton overwhelmingly vote for ban on burqas
A second Swiss canton will introduce a regional burqa ban after voters in St. Gallen overwhelmingly voted Sunday to prohibit all face-covering garments in public spaces. Nearly 67 percent of voters in the northeastern Swiss canton voted in favor of the new law, according to ...
National Sep 20, 2018
The government of Okinawa on Thursday submitted to the local assembly a bill proposing a referendum on the controversial plan to relocate a key U.S. military base within the southern island prefecture. The bill is likely to be approved by the prefectural assembly, where a ...
Business Sep 3, 2018
Brexit could sway Scottish voters to seek independence from U.K.: poll
Britain's exit from the European Union could tip public opinion in Scotland in favor of seeking independence, an opinion poll showed on Sunday. Scotland voted against independence in 2014, but a subsequent referendum on leaving the EU has reignited debate over its long-term future as ...
Business Jun 10, 2018
Swiss 'real money' initiative fails after lack of support from cantons
A radical plan to upend Switzerland's financial landscape by barring commercial banks from creating money has been defeated after failing to win a majority of support from the Swiss cantons, Swiss broadcaster SRF said Sunday. The measure needed to secure a majority of Switzerland's 26 ...
World / Politics Apr 30, 2018
Christine Howell planned to spend two years straight traveling and working in Australia from her arrival in Melbourne last December without breaking her trip to return home to Ireland. The timing felt right. Howell, 27, had qualified as an optician but wasn't ready to settle. ...