Parody of LDP security bills video goes viral ahead of Diet vote
An animated video released by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party that attempts to explain the need for the security bills currently being debated by the Diet has spawned a scathing parody that attempts to shoot holes in the ruling coalition's argument for the legislation. Despite ...
Famed director Miyazaki calls Abe's move to revise Constitution 'despicable'
Famed director Hayao Miyazaki made a rare public appearance Monday in Tokyo, but the one-hour news conference may not have satisfied fans of his magical animation: The subject wasn't movies but politics. Responding to questions from reporters, Miyazaki bashed Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's moves to ...
144 local, prefectural governments release statements condemning security bills
Local opposition is growing to security bills that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hopes to push through the Lower House next week, with 144 prefectural, municipal and town governments releasing statements condemning the legislation as of Friday. Another 181 local governments have passed similar, nonbinding statements ...
Ishin, DPJ press ruling coalition to amend security bills ahead of Lower House vote
With passage of the government's national security bills through the Lower House coming into sight, deliberations on counterproposals submitted by the two largest opposition parties kicked off Friday at a special Lower House committee, in parallel with the state-sponsored legislation. Ishin no To (Japan Innovation ...
LDP, DPJ take to Internet to mount security bill-related campaigns of persuasion
As Prime Minister Shinzo Abe prepares to ram through legislation that would drastically alter Japan's security stance, both the LDP and DPJ are taking their arguments to the people — via a variety of online media.
The Abe administration continues to fail to satisfactorily answer the questions that dog its proposed security legislation.
Even if the Abe government extends the Diet session to ensure passage of its security legislation, it still must pass constitutional muster to be legitimate.
Chinese officials may have to pledge allegiance to constitution
Chinese officials may have to pledge allegiance to the constitution when they take up their posts, Xinhua News Agency said on Wednesday, reporting that a draft law is being considered as part of a campaign to stamp out abuses of position. If parliament approves the ...
Japanese city in a dance over pop band that criticized ruling LDP
The municipal government in Yamato, Kanagawa Prefecture, is retroactively withdrawing support for a public event after an all-girl pop group performed a song that criticized the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
Diet session extended through September as Abe aims to pass contentious security bills
Abe and Komeito's leader decide to extend the Diet session by the most days in postwar history in a bid to enact the controversial security bills.
Some 56.7 percent of the public believe the security bills under deliberation in the Diet are unconstitutional and 29.2 percent do not, a survey said Sunday. In the telephone survey conducted by Kyodo News over the weekend, 58.7 percent said they oppose the bills, up ...
15,000 female demonstrators form chain around Diet building in protest at security bills
Some 15,000 female demonstrators rallied Saturday in Tokyo to protest security bills that would expand the scope of overseas operations by the Self-Defense Forces. Wearing red, the color associated with anger, and carrying placards with slogans expressing opposition to the bills, the protesters formed a ...
