Tag - snap-election-2014

 
 

SNAP ELECTION 2014

Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / DECISION 2014
Dec 15, 2014
Abe tightens grip on power as ruling coalition wins 325 seats in Lower House election
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito, its junior partner in the ruling coalition, won the Lower House election by a landslide Sunday, claiming 325 seats in the powerful chamber.
JAPAN / Politics / DECISION 2014
Dec 15, 2014
DPJ President Kaieda loses Diet seat, set to quit as leader
In a stunning development early Monday morning, Banri Kaieda, president of the Democratic Party of Japan learned he lost his Diet seat in Sunday's Lower House election and is now set to quit as leader of the nation's largest opposition force.
JAPAN / Politics / DECISION 2014
Dec 15, 2014
Kan humbled, manages to get last seat in poll
After struggling throughout his campaign, ex-Prime Minister Naoto Kan, a former leader of the Democratic Party of Japan, won the last seat in Sunday's national election, which saw candidates vying for the 475 seats in the Lower House.Like the last election two years ago, Kan lost to his rival from the Liberal Democratic Party in his single-seat electoral district in Tokyo, but later won a seat through the proportional representation route. Under the election system, gaining a seat in a single-seat constituency means voters support the candidate."I am sorry that I didn't gain a seat in my district despite the tremendous support I received," Kan said in a news conference early Monday morning, making a small bow. "It is my responsibility that I couldn't win enough support."Reports that Kan lost in the single-seat election district initially prompted supporters to express disbelief over his defeat. Kan had waited at home with his wife for the proportional representation results and appeared at his campaign office at around 3 a.m. on Monday."I'd like to do my best to realize my election pledge to stop nuclear energy and the dangerous Abe government," said Kan, an opponent to atomic power and a foe of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's LDP-led ruling bloc. After shaking hands with the roughtly 10 supporters still in the office, he left without shouting banzai.Kan started making speeches in his electoral district before the campaign date was officially announced. He stressed his opposition to nuclear power at the start of his campaign, apparently drawing little voter reaction. Then he changed his strategy and started to stress measures against the large number of suicides that he pursued when he was prime minister. But he struggled throughout his campaign. One voter yelled at him that nothing had improved even after voters gave his government, which was led by the Democratic Party of Japan, a chance.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / DECISION 2014
Dec 15, 2014
Lower House election results
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito, its junior partner in the ruling coalition, win the Lower House election by a landslide Sunday, claiming 325 seats.
JAPAN / Politics / DECISION 2014
Dec 15, 2014
Undecided voters swing Abe's way again
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is a gambler, and he won again Sunday night.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / DECISION 2014
Dec 14, 2014
Proportional representation gamble stems Ishin no To losses
A last-minute appeal by Ishin no To (Japan Innovation Party) for proportional representation votes appears to have prevented larger-than-predicted losses in Sunday's Lower House election.
Japan Times
JAPAN / DECISION 2014
Dec 14, 2014
LDP clinches hollow victory as opposition options elude
The Liberal Democratic Party handily wrapped up the Lower House election Sunday even as many voters said they were driven by lack of choice rather than enthusiasm for the conservative party headed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
Dec 14, 2014
Nagoya: What do you think of Abe's decision to call a snap election?
Voters and non-voters alike give their views on today's Lower House election, which was called by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe only two years after the last one.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / DECISION 2014
Dec 14, 2014
Voting underway in snap Lower House election, with focus on 'Abenomics'
Less than a quarter of eligible voters had cast ballots as of 2 p.m. on Sunday, reflecting an apparent lack of public interest in the snap Lower House election.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / DECISION 2014
Dec 13, 2014
Amid lack of alternatives, Abe looks to win big by default
The focus of the House of Representatives election is not on how close it will be, but on how strong Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ruling coalition will become.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 13, 2014
Ahead of near-certain election win, Abe pivots away from painful reforms
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is signaling that retooling Japan's economy with painful structural reforms must take a back seat to reviving growth, even though he is poised to win a big "referendum" on his economic policies in an election Sunday that might set a new record for low turnout.
JAPAN / Politics / DECISION 2014
Dec 12, 2014
In Fukui, economy, reactors inseparable in election debate
For most of Japan, the issues of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's economic policies and nuclear reactor restarts are generally separate debates. But not in LDP-leaning Fukui.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / DECISION 2014
Dec 12, 2014
Ishikawa aims to become first openly gay member of Lower House
Openly gay politician Taiga Ishikawa says that winning a Diet seat in Sunday's election would empower him to change politics and help Japanese society recognize its diversity.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 12, 2014
Abe's base aims to restore past religious, patriotic values
As Prime Minister Shinzo Abe promises voters a bright future for Japan's economy, key parts of his conservative base want him to steer the nation back toward a traditional ethos mixing Shinto myth, patriotism and pride in the ancient Imperial line.
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 11, 2014
LDP set to win 28% of proportional representation seats: poll
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party is projected to win a leading 28.0 percent of the proportional representation seats in Sunday's general election, the latest survey showed Thursday.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / DECISION 2014
Dec 11, 2014
On the campaign trail, ex-minister Obuchi says sorry for scandal
An apologetic Yuko Obuchi reels in her stumping for the Lower House election after being stung by a fundraising scandal that abruptly ended her stint as trade minister.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / DECISION 2014
Dec 11, 2014
Welfare cuts? Abe won't say it
Hiroko Shinohara frets about one issue Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has noticeably avoided on the campaign trail ahead of Sunday's election: the need to cut the nation's generous social welfare program that supports millions of people.
JAPAN / Politics / DECISION 2014
Dec 10, 2014
Diet session likely to open Dec. 24 to pick new prime minister: LDP lawmaker
A special session of the Diet will likely begin on Dec. 24 to choose a new prime minister following Sunday's snap Lower House election, a Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker said on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Politics / DECISION 2014
Dec 10, 2014
Ishin no To's campaign haunted by voter discontent in Kinki, Tokyo-Kanagawa
With several polls indicating that the ruling coalition may win over 300 of the 480 seats in Sunday's Lower House race, the Liberal Democratic Party is poised to be the big winner — and Ishin no To (Japan Innovation Party) the main loser.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / DECISION 2014
Dec 10, 2014
DPJ faces uphill battle for swing voters
While the ruling coalition commands a higher number of core supporters, opposition parties are vying for swing voters in an election that is expected to see a low turnout.

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Historically, kabuki was considered the entertainment of the merchant and peasant classes, a far cry from how it is regarded today.
For Japan's oldest kabuki theater, the show must go on