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August 31, 2025
 

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UPPER HOUSE

Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 18, 2019
With pacifist Constitution at stake, apathy reigns in Japan ahead of Upper House election
Politically speaking, the upcoming Upper House election is a huge deal for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. After all, it's a vote that could determine the fate of his long-held ambition to amend the postwar pacifist Constitution.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 17, 2019
'Dear young people, don't vote!' say Japan's senior citizens in campaign viral video
As the nation readies for the upcoming Upper House election set for this Sunday, a video targeted at Japan's youths is going viral owing to its controversial message delivered by a group of senior citizens: "Dear young people, don't vote!"
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 17, 2019
Candidates with disabilities hope to lay foundation for inclusive Diet in Upper House election
On a recent Wednesday morning, Rie Saito wasn't giving a lengthy, energetic speech about her campaign pledges through a loudspeaker, unlike most of her competitors on the stump.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 8, 2019
Abe calls for constitutional amendments proposals to be debated in Diet
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Sunday demanded that the Diet discuss his Liberal Democratic Party's proposals for constitutional amendments.
EDITORIALS
Jul 4, 2019
Yet another test of Abe's policies
This month's Upper House election will give voters another opportunity to cast judgment on the 7-year-old Abe administration.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 26, 2019
Abe looks to secure voter mandate for 'stability' in Upper House vote as Diet session wraps up
On Wednesday, the government formally determined that the Upper House election will take place July 21, preceded by campaigning that would kick off July 4.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 22, 2019
Abe sets ruling bloc's winning bar at Upper House majority
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Saturday set the win-or-lose bar for the ruling coalition in this summer's House of Councilors election at the majority of seats in the Upper House.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 11, 2018
Debate over LDP's plan to reform electoral system for Upper House heats up
Brushing off opposition anger, the ruling bloc on Wednesday rammed through a Diet panel a contentious bill that will likely make the arcane electoral system even more complicated.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jun 22, 2018
Seeking higher office: Marijuana found growing near lawmakers' building in central Tokyo
In a nation governed by one of the world's most draconian anti-cannabis laws, it's rare enough to stumble upon marijuana plants thriving on the side of a road.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 23, 2017
North Korea blasts Japan for using election to 'pave groundwork' for invasion
North Korea on Monday blasted "Japanese reactionaries" for working to "pave the groundwork for a reinvasion of the Korean peninsula" after Sunday's Lower House election that saw Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ruling bloc secure a sweeping victory.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 16, 2017
Officials deny remarks attributed to them in Kake papers
Two senior government officials deny making the smoking-gun remarks linked to them in the Kake Gakuen document leak, pitting the education ministry against Prime Minister Abe's Cabinet.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 6, 2017
DP plays political hardball in bid to slow passage of conspiracy bill
In a last-ditch effort to block the enactment of a contentious bill to criminalize conspiracies, the Democratic Party submitted Tuesday a motion to the Upper House calling for the removal of Kozo Akino, the chairperson of the chamber's Judicial Committee.
COMMUNITY / Issues / LAW OF THE LAND
Jan 15, 2017
Examining a year in the life of the country's Diet
When not trying to get elected, Japan's 700-plus Diet members (475 in the House of Representatives, 242 in the House of Councilors) conduct the weighty business of the nation. With the 193rd session of the national legislature under the current Constitution scheduled to commence on Jan. 20, let's look...
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 15, 2016
Diet enacts contentious casino legislation
The Diet enacted a law to legalize casinos Thursday morning amid ongoing public concerns over a raft of potential social ills, including surges in gambling addiction and organized crime.
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 13, 2016
Ruling bloc rams casino bill through committee
The ruling bloc rams a divisive casino legalization bill through an Upper House committee, opening the door to its likely passage on Wednesday.
EDITORIALS
Aug 5, 2016
Abe's unrivaled position of power
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's political power is unrivaled — does he have the wherewithal to make the most of it?
Japan Times
JAPAN / View from Osaka
Jul 16, 2016
Regional votes reveal cracks in political landscape
The overwhelming victory of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party-Komeito coalition in the July 10 Upper House election overshadowed regional results that suggest growing numbers of voters in certain parts of Japan aren't as dedicated to the LDP as it first appears.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 10, 2016
Voting kicks off in Japan as Abe seeks Upper House supermajority
Voting began Sunday in an Upper House election that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has billed as a chance to pass judgment on his economic policies. Opposition parties, however, are focused on preventing a resounding victory for the prime minister that would allow him to take the next step toward revising...
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Jul 4, 2016
Let's discuss the Upper House election
The nation's major political parties have kicked off their official House of Councilors election campaigns, with the ruling bloc and a united opposition giving speeches centered on the economy around the country.
EDITORIALS
Jun 23, 2016
Constitution as a campaign issue
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe repeatedly emphasizes that economy is the foremost issue in the campaign for the July 10 Upper House election — urging voters to choose whether to endorse his bid to go on with Abenomics or return to what he calls "those dark days" before the policy package was launched. But...
Philippine bid to acquire used Japanese warships gains steam
Tokyo is looking to transfer Abukuma-class vessels to the Philippines as part of broader efforts to boost the defense capabilities of like-minded neighbors amid growing Chinese military assertiveness in the region.
Japan to launch broad review of immigration policies amid rise in foreign nationals
Foreign tourists at Narita Airport in June. A report released Friday stresses that Japan is at a turning point and that current ad-hoc measures on immigration are no longer sufficient.
Top Japan trade negotiator canceled U.S. trip over rice, report says
Ryosei Akazawa
Most Japanese teens struggling with school find end of summer ‘painful’
Some 93.1% of Japanese teenagers who struggle with school life said they felt like they “wanted to disappear from the world" at the end of summer vacation ahead of the start of a new term, according to a recent survey released by Yokohama-based nonprofit Daisan Kazoku.
Most Trump tariffs are not legal, U.S. appeals court rules
Workers hang a large poster of U.S. President Donald Trump on the facade of the Department of Labor headquarters building in Washington on Wednesday.
Japan to launch broad review of immigration policies amid rise in foreign nationals
Foreign tourists at Narita Airport in June. A report released Friday stresses that Japan is at a turning point and that current ad-hoc measures on immigration are no longer sufficient.
Japan is warming up to tattoos — just not permanent ones
Tattoos have a complex history in Japan, but new types of temporary ink are letting locals curious about body art experiment without the commitment.
YouTube Music Weekend is where Japan’s internet-born performers go global
Headlining the second day of YouTube Music Weekend is Vocaloid artist Kikuo, who, with 1.46 million YouTube subscribers, is one of the most popular artists in the genre.
Japan looks to build drone ‘shield’ in record defense budget request
A group of Ground Self-Defense Force service members discuss drone operations and capabilities at a joint static display during the Orient Shield 24 opening ceremony at the Yausubetsu Training Area in Hokkaido in July last year.
Can anime carry the memories of World War II?
Many schools in Japan show "Grave of the Fireflies" as educational material to tell the emotionally grueling story of a boy who has no means to prevent his sister from starving to death.

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