Voices | VIEWS FROM THE STREET Mar 16, 2015
Yokohama: What are you most proud or fond of about Japan?
by Tyler Parr
People on the streets of Japan's second most-populous city wax positive about the archipelago's attractions.
Editorials Mar 13, 2015
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Liberal Democratic Party are moving to put amendment of the Constitution at the forefront of their agenda, with specific timetables already discussed for revising text that has remained unchanged since it took effect in 1947.
National / History Mar 9, 2015
Tokyo firebombing survivor fears Japan starting down road to war again
by Elaine Lies
Katsumoto Saotome was 12 the night he ran for his life through a sea of flames, jumping over smouldering railroad ties along a train track as U.S. B-29 bombers rained incendiary bombs down around him. The U.S. bombing after midnight on March 10, 1945, annihilated ...
National / Politics Mar 8, 2015
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called Sunday for swift enactment of legislation to enable Japan to defend its security more robustly as his Liberal Democratic Party held its annual convention. "We have a responsibility to protect the lives and peace of the Japanese people. . . ...
National / Politics Mar 8, 2015
A record 29.9 percent of Japanese say they want the Self-Defense Forces' capabilities boosted, a government survey said. The figure was up 5.1 percentage points from a survey three years ago, and almost twice the 2009 figure, after which SDF personnel were involved in search-and-rescue ...
National / Politics Mar 6, 2015
Major parties submit bill to lower voting age to 18 next year
The nation's top political parties have submitted a bill to amend the electoral law to lower the voting age for national elections to 18 from 20. Six parties, including the Liberal Democratic Party-Komeito ruling coalition and the Democratic Party of Japan, the main opposition force, ...
National / Politics Feb 26, 2015
Ruling bloc may seek Diet nod for any overseas SDF dispatch as precondition to permanent law
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the government will consider requiring advance Diet approval for the dispatch of Self-Defense Forces overseas as a condition for seeking a permanent law on their missions, NHK reported Thursday. In line with the Cabinet's decision to reinterpret the Constitution ...
National / Social Issues Feb 20, 2015
Gay marriage push in Japan faces constitutional barrier
by Andy Sharp
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who has fought to alter the Constitution on matters of security, is less eager to oppose its principles when it comes to same-sex marriage. Changing the charter to allow gay marriage would require "extremely cautious consideration," Abe said Wednesday in the ...
National / Crime & Legal Feb 19, 2015
Constitutionality of rules on surnames, remarriage under review
The Supreme Court will examine two cases questioning whether Civil Code articles forcing married couples to choose a single surname and prohibiting women from remarrying for six months are constitutional.
National / Politics Feb 13, 2015
Ruling bloc parties explore positions on defense
by Mizuho Aoki
The Liberal Democratic Party-Komeito ruling coalition kicked off formal discussions Friday on security legislation that would expand the range of missions the Self-Defense Forces could be deployed on. The weekly talks are expected to be tough. Komeito is reluctant to loosen legal restrictions on military ...
National / Politics Feb 12, 2015
Abe sidesteps expanded SDF role in Diet policy speech
by Reiji Yoshida
Delivering a key policy speech at the Diet, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reiterated his determination Thursday to push for economic reforms but avoided touching the most controversial issue expected at this year's ordinary Diet session: security bills to expand the scope of Self-Defense Forces ...
National Feb 9, 2015
Officials in Australia and Japan on Monday expressed skepticism and confusion over a pledge by Prime Minister Tony Abbott to give an Australian state-owned shipbuilder the option to tender for a major submarine contract, heightening the uncertainty around the project. Sources have said Australia is ...