Editorials Jul 11, 2016
Prime Minister Abe should use his coalition's bolstered Diet majority to more effectively implement economic reforms, not to amend the Constitution.
National / Politics Jul 7, 2016
The support rating for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Liberal Democratic Party stood at 33.5 percent, up 2.6 percentage points from the previous poll conducted immediately after official campaigning kicked off last month for the July 10 House of Councilors election, a survey showed Wednesday. Meanwhile, ...
National / Politics Jul 6, 2016
Sunday's election likely to result in majority needed for constitutional revision: poll
Sunday's election may put Japan in a position to rewrite its Constitution, as lawmakers who support revising the contentious document are likely to win the required two-thirds majority in the Upper House, a Kyodo News survey has found. Released Tuesday, the survey showed Prime Minister ...
National / Politics Mar 24, 2016
Author, disabilities champion Hirotada Ototake admits to adulterous affairs
by Tomohiro Osaki
In a blow that could further humiliate the scandal-tainted ruling party, disabled celebrity author and educator Hirotada Ototake, rumored to be tapped for an election run with the Liberal Democratic Party, apologized Thursday for committing adultery following a report by a tabloid magazine. "My action ...
National / Politics Jan 30, 2016
by Tomohiro Osaki
Japan’s main opposition party vows to stop the ruling party from winning a critical election it sees as the last chance to preserve the postwar pacifist Constitution.
National / Politics Jan 29, 2016
Rules fixed for new voters deprived of chance to cast ballot due to changes of address
A law addressing a flaw in Japan's voting rules was enacted in the Diet Thursday ahead of the lowering of the voting age to 18 from 20, ensuring new voters will not miss the chance to cast ballots just because they have changed their ...
National / Politics Jan 20, 2016
Diet OK looms on bill to rectify rules that currently would prevent some young people from voting
Ruling and opposition parties agreed Tuesday to pass a bill soon to enable people aged 18 or 19 to vote in the House of Councilors election this summer even if they change their address shortly before the election. Japan is set to lower the voting ...
National / Politics Jan 12, 2016
Mayoral candidates in Okinawa face off over U.S. base
by Eric Johnston
Less than two weeks remain until a local election that may influence both the planned relocation of the Futenma military base and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's effort to secure a two-thirds majority in this summer's Upper House election. The Jan. 24 mayoral election in Ginowan, ...
Reference | FYI Jan 11, 2016
Abe's constitutional revision hopes ride on July election, right-leaning opposition cooperation
by Reiji Yoshida
Japan's postwar pacifism will face a critical challenge this year that could drastically change the course of this country forever: the July Upper House election.
National / Politics Jan 11, 2016
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe went home Monday to Yamaguchi Prefecture to whip up support from his base, telling them he plans to win the Upper House election this summer and underscored the importance of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. "In order to achieve results, we need a ...
National / Politics Jan 6, 2016
DPJ to submit bill to lower minimum age of election candidates
Democratic Party of Japan leader Katsuya Okada said Tuesday the main opposition party plans to submit to the regular Diet session a bill to lower the minimum age of people running for elections. Speaking at a news conference a day after the Diet convened the ...
Editorials Dec 25, 2015
The Abe administration appears to be sacrificing budgetary discipline in favor of doling out pork ahead of the Upper House election.