Commentary / World Oct 14, 2021
Sleepless in Seoul: Waiting for Kishida’s phone call
by Kuni Miyake
New Prime Minister Kishida has not called the president of South Korea yet, causing a stir in South Korean media.
Commentary / Japan Oct 12, 2021
by Michael MacArthur Bosack
It’s precisely because of the LDP and Komeito's massive vote-generating machine that the ruling coalition has an edge over the opposition in the coming election.
Commentary / Japan Oct 7, 2021
What’s behind Japan’s ambivalence about Kishida
by Heizo Takenaka
Kishida has toed a cautious line on almost everything, raising questions about how he will actually deliver on his policies.
Commentary / Japan Oct 4, 2021
What Kishida's Cabinet picks tell us
by Michael MacArthur Bosack
It is important to look at not only who gets tapped, but which LDP factions they represent.
Commentary / Japan Oct 1, 2021
Will Japan’s China policy change under Kishida’s leadership?
by Kuni Miyake
Whether Kishida is Abe’s puppet or not, what he should do or can do in his foreign policy will be defined by the geostrategic reality in the Indo-Pacific region.
Commentary / Japan | Perspectives Oct 1, 2021
How Kishida can avoid becoming another revolving-door prime minister
by Michael MacArthur Bosack
The new LDP president will focus on expanding his power, implementing policies that benefit the electorate and ensuring success in the upcoming elections before widening his policy window.
Commentary / Japan Sep 27, 2021
Who the opposition wants to win the LDP presidential race
by Michael MacArthur Bosack
The opposition are strategizing on how to erode the ruling LDP-Komeito coalition’s Lower House majority, a task all the more difficult without knowing who their principal opponent will be.
National / Politics | EXPLAINER Sep 22, 2021
The LDP's secretary-general: A combination of CEO and diplomat
by Eric Johnston
The LDP presidential race has put renewed focus on the powerful position, with various party heavyweights looking to get rid of the long-standing incumbent.
Commentary / Japan Jul 3, 2021
Why politicians make the switch from Upper to Lower House
by Michael MacArthur Bosack
One almost never hears about a Lower House member trying to move to the Upper House, but movement the opposite direction has plenty of precedent.
National / Politics | EXPLAINER Dec 24, 2020
Generational change and policy differences test LDP-Komeito political bonds
by Eric Johnston
The Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito recently marked 21 years of alliance, having ruled Japan as a coalition for 18 of those years. But are they growing apart?
National / Reference | EXPLAINER Jul 5, 2020
Powerful Japanese medical group has history of political prescriptions
by Eric Johnston
Here’s a closer look at the group, its political connections and what the recent change in its leadership might mean for the Liberal Democratic Party.