politics

Shigeru IshibaBy Adam P Liff -- Shigeru Ishiba is something of an anomaly in the Japanese political world. His soft-spoken and reserved manner belies his high level of competence. Experts credit his ability to boil down complicated defense and foreign policy issues into an easily digestible form as one of the main enablers of Japan’s rapidly transforming security policy. His relative youth, coupled with a formidable support base in his hometown all but guarantee that he will remain a prominent figure in Japanese politics for years to come.

Right-wing groups are a small but noisy minority on Japan's political landscape. This week's newsletter looks at the causes close to their hearts and considers the nature of their protests. Read Now

By Adam P Liff -- Implications of recent domestic political developments for the US-Japan alliance -- The political drama ensuing from the opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ)’s historic takeover of the House of Councillors this past summer continues to dominate newspaper headlines nearly six months later. The poster child for the consequences of the nascent power split between the upper and lower houses, which the Japanese media have creatively christened a ‘twisted Diet,’ has been none other than controversy surrounding the extension of the so-called Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Law (ATSML).

Mr Ozawa, leader of the DPJBy Tobias Harris

On the night of the Upper House elections, Ichiro Ozawa, president of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) and architect of his party’s election strategy, was nowhere to be found. As the results came in, Naoto Kan, DPJ acting president, and Yukio Hatoyama, DPJ secretary-general, spoke to the press about their party’s victory and excused the absence of the third member of the party’s ruling troika. Perhaps Mr Ozawa was absent due to shock at the scale of his party’s victory.

Yasuo Fukuda, the new Japanese PM, is grey, sober, unexciting. But what does this mean for the world? This week we look at some of the key international relationships that he will have to engage with. Read Now

With the Upper House elections approaching J@pan Inc looks at the potential for them to affect the careers of the two main party leaders. Read Now

Peter HarrisBy Peter Harris
A review of Shinzo Abe’s premiership so far: where it’s been and where it might be going

Despite his poor position in recent polls, Japan’s premier seems to be enjoying his position six months into the job, even if he can’t always manage a smile. In his chatty newsletter on his homepage he writes of the “deep breath of fresh air” afforded him by his diplomatic visits abroad:

“In one European country I was received by a brass band playing the Japanese national anthem. On another occasion, I was welcomed by military police standing in perfect formation. In the Philippines, women dressed in colorful ethnic costumes and performed a beautiful dance for me.”