politics

By Takaaki Ohta

Internet electioneering and Japan’s political process.

Political speeches—a staple of many democratic election processes—have not been allowed to play a major role in Japanese elections.

Whilst Taro Aso's popularity is at an all time high, there is no hiding that he is typical of the aging LDP. What Japan needs is a reformist - someone with charisma and a populist image but also manageable and not so radical.

The popularity of Taro Aso's cabinet has already started sinking and if a new opinion poll speaks the truth, it looks like the LDP will have to inject a bit of hope into the economy, before an election is called. Read Now

New PM Taro Aso takes over the reins but does he have what it takes to lose the general election? Read Now

With the new leader of the LDP about to be chosen, the question remains: Does it even matter?Read Now

With the aging society and the economy lagging, Tokyo struggles in its attempt to become an international financial center. Recently appointed Financial Services Minister, Toshimitsu Motegi, proposes tax reform policies to encourage investment and boost the economy. Read Now

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.