Tag - taro-aso

 
 

TARO ASO

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida arrives for a meeting of a parliamentary ethics committee at the Lower House of parliament in Tokyo on Feb. 29.
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Mar 7, 2024
Kishida's three challenges: Discipline, by-elections and Motegi
How the prime minister handles these matters could impact his political future as well as that of the Liberal Democratic Party.
Liberal Democratic Party Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi (from left), Vice President Taro Aso and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida attend a party meeting on Jan. 26.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Feb 4, 2024
Turmoil ahead for two LDP factions continuing activities
Factions led by Taro Aso and Toshimitsu Motegi continue to face calls to disband from their own members.
Former Prime Minister Taro Aso speaks during a forum in Taipei in August.
JAPAN / Politics
Feb 2, 2024
Ex-PM Aso retracts sexist remarks against top diplomat
In a speech on Sunday, Aso described Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa as an "obasan."
Taro Aso, vice president of the Liberal Democratic Party, makes a speech in Ashiya, Fukuoka Prefecture, on Sunday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 30, 2024
Japan foreign minister brushes off controversial remarks by Taro Aso
Yoko Kamikawa appeared unfazed after Aso called her an old lady and said she's "not that good looking.”
Liberal Democratic Party Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi (left), Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and the party's vice president, Taro Aso, attend a party reform panel in Tokyo on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 25, 2024
LDP’s reform report appears light on firm actions targeting faction politics
Two weeks of hurried debate is unlikely to eradicate factionalism, which has long been seen as a defining trait of the party, experts say.
Kochikai, formerly led by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, meets in Tokyo on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 23, 2024
LDP agrees to reshape factions and toughen rules on political funding
It remains unclear, however, whether this move will lead to a substantial reform of the party's faction-oriented politics.
As the political upheaval continues, the administration of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is readying itself for the release of a party political reform panel’s report on the slush funds scandal and its recommendations for ensuring it doesn’t happen again.
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 22, 2024
Kishida's LDP factions gamble fails to improve his popularity
A Yomiuri Shimbun poll conducted over the weekend found the Kishida Cabinet’s approval rating was 24%, the lowest since the LDP returned to power in 2012.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced the dissolution of his LDP faction on Friday, marking a significant shift in the wake of a political funding scandal.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jan 22, 2024
Mired in scandal, the LDP chips away at its factions
Three LDP factions, including Kishida's, announced their dissolution last week. While it's unlikely that all groupings will meet the same fate, reform is in the air.
Liberal Democratic Party Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi speaks to reporters at the party's headquarters in Tokyo on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 21, 2024
Tougher funds law eyed as LDP's Motegi and Aso look to keep factions
LDP Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi has suggested the introduction of a guilt-by-association system amid a fundraising scandal roiling the ruling party.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida attends a news conference at the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo on Jan. 4.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Jan 20, 2024
Kishida takes risky gamble by dissolving LDP faction
Members of the factions led by LDP Vice President Taro Aso and Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi have resisted following suit, potentially endangering the PM.
After two meetings of an ad-hoc panel established by party leader and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida earlier this month, fissures between lawmakers have emerged, and at the moment the outcome of the debate remains hard to predict.
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 17, 2024
Dissolving factions becomes focus of LDP funding scandal task force
The discussions have led to divisions between lawmakers, and at the moment the outcome of the debate remains hard to predict.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida addresses the first meeting of the Liberal Democratic Party's reform panel, held Thursday at the party's headquarters, along with former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and LDP Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi.
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 12, 2024
Ruling LDP starts discussions to reform political funds rules
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who heads the LDP, held the "political reform" panel's first meeting on Thursday.
Taro Aso, vice president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, gives a speech at an event organized by the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress in Washington on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 11, 2024
LDP VP Taro Aso calls for peaceful Beijing-Taipei communication
Taro Aso spoke at an event organized by the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress, a U.S. think tank, in Washington.
In Washington on Monday and Tuesday, Pentagon and Chinese military officials held their first in-person defense policy talks since the COVID-19 pandemic erupted.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jan 10, 2024
China's military vows no compromise on Taiwan after rare talks with U.S.
The meeting came as China warned Tokyo over remarks by former Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso that Japan would join the fight in a war over the democratic island.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Taro Aso, vice president of the Liberal Democratic Party, shake hands last November.
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 7, 2024
Kishida forced to rely more on 'kingmaker' Taro Aso amid funds scandal
The move underscored how Kishida's political influence is plunging as more LDP lawmakers have begun to doubt his leadership and ability to handle the accusations.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Sanae Takaichi (center) and Taro Kono attend a Lower House session in Tokyo last week.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 29, 2023
Despite low approval ratings, Kishida likely to keep top job
While the situation around the government warrants no optimism, experts agree the prime minister has no reason to fret.
Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako greet guests during the autumn garden party at the Akasaka Palace in Tokyo on Nov. 2.
JAPAN
Nov 17, 2023
LDP to consider imperial law revision for stable succession
The focus of discussions will be, in part, on whether to allow Japan to have a female emperor.
Former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori gives an interview in Tokyo on July 4.
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 29, 2023
Yoshiro Mori's image as LDP kingmaker rubs up against reality
While he remains a strong presence in the LDP, his actual ability to get his way on policy and personnel matters may not be as strong as it first appears.
Liberal Democratic Party Vice President Taro Aso speaks in the city of Fukuoka on Sunday.
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 27, 2023
Lawmakers upset as Taro Aso dubs coalition partner a 'cancer'
The LDP vice president reportedly made the remark while discussing Komeito's stance on the revision of key security documents last December.
Liberal Democratic Party Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi (left), Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and LDP Vice President Taro Aso attend a party executive meeting in Tokyo on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 8, 2023
Next LDP leadership race looms over Kishida's reshuffle plans
The prime minister looks set to retain two veteran Liberal Democratic Party leaders in their posts in a Cabinet and LDP leadership reshuffle.

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A statue of "Dragon Ball" character Goku stands outside the offices of Bandai Namco in Tokyo. The figure is now as recognizable as such characters as Mickey Mouse and Spider-Man.
Akira Toriyama's gift to the world