New Koike-allied party to field dozens of candidates in Abe's snap election: Wakasa
A new party envisioned by a lawmaker close to popular Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike plans to field several dozen candidates in an upcoming general election expected for Oct. 22, the lawmaker said Wednesday. Independent lawmaker Masaru Wakasa said on a radio program that he will ...
Koike tests possibilities and perils of populism in Japan
Abe occupies Koike's ideological comfort zone, so she needs to cannibalize his base to get any traction. It is thus imperative that she presents an alternative policy agenda to highlight their differences and tap into simmering dissatisfaction with the status quo.
Beleaguered Abe on the ropes as support weakens
The public has seen the true face of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and doesn't like what it sees.
Tokyo vote prompts crisis of confidence for Renho's Democratic Party
Sunday's Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election dealt a hard blow to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, with his Liberal Democratic Party suffering a historic defeat and securing only 23 seats — the lowest-ever figure for the LDP. But another big loser in the election may face problems ...
Success of Koike's Tomin First echoes Ishin no Kai movement
A popular, media-savvy figure originally from the Kansai region wins the governorship by running as a reformer, then forming a political party to take on the Liberal Democratic Party in the local assembly election. Upon winning a plurality of votes, the party teams up ...
Tokyo election loss places Abe in jeopardy
It wasn't so long ago that Shinzo Abe appeared on course to becoming Japan's longest-serving prime minister ever. But after his conservative Liberal Democratic Party's crushing defeat in Sunday's Tokyo assembly election, Abe's iron grip on power has finally shown signs of slipping — a ...
With victory in hand, Koike to step down as head of Tomin First
A day after leading Tomin First no Kai (Tokyoites First) to a landslide victory in the metropolitan assembly election, Gov. Yuriko Koike reaffirmed her commitment to reform but said she would resign as leader of the upstart party to focus on the job at ...
