National / Politics Jun 17, 2013
Abe will request opposition support to amend Constitution after election
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Sunday he will try to persuade lawmakers from the Democratic Party of Japan, the main opposition force, to support his bid to amend the Constitution after the Upper House election. Abe told reporters in Warsaw that he will try to ...
Editorials Jun 1, 2013
The government's efforts to adopt a cyber security strategy deserve praise as long as the constitutional protection of communications privacy is not undermined.
National May 14, 2013
Hashimoto struggles to keep Nippon Ishin no Kai relevant, distinct from LDP
by Eric Johnston
The survival of Nippon Ishin no Kai is thrown into doubt as coleader Toru Hashimoto gropes for ways to keep it relevant and distinct from the ruling LDP.
National / Politics May 10, 2013
Politicians open debate on Article 96
by Ayako Mie
The ruling and opposition camps open their first talks on revising Article 96 of the Constitution amid opposing views on whether amending the supreme code should be easier.
National / Politics May 3, 2013
Opponents face off over Constitution Day
by Kazuaki Nagata and Tomohiro Osaki
With constitutional revision emerging as the primary issue in the Upper House poll, proponents and opponents use Constitution Day to press their cases.
Issues | THE FOREIGN ELEMENT Apr 23, 2013
Student seeking Kyoto flat told: No foreigners allowed
by Simon Scott
After spending 2½ years living the quiet life in Shiga Prefecture, Ryukoku University student Victor Rosenhoj was looking forward to moving to Kyoto, where things promised to be more lively and international.
Issues | THE FOREIGN ELEMENT Apr 16, 2013
Mad court rush could brake or bless Abe's vision
by Colin P.A. Jones
As Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Cabinet rush to diminish the Bank of Japan's bothersome independence, join the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations (sort of . . .), start pouring lovely, popular concrete before the summer House of Councilors elections and (sotto voce) maybe even ...
National / Politics Apr 11, 2013
Ishin leaders, Abe meet on revising Constitution
by Eric Johnston
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met Tuesday evening in Tokyo with top Osaka-based Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) officials Toru Hashimoto and Ichiro Matsui to discuss cooperation on amending the Constitution. Hashimoto, who, along with Lower House member Shintaro Ishihara, serves as coleader of ...
Editorials Apr 4, 2013
Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) flies dangerous colors at its first party convention, calling for constitutional revision of the no-war principle.
National / Politics Apr 3, 2013
Opposition rejects LDP's plan to cut Lower House seats
by Ayako Mie
Amid a spate of high court verdicts that the vote-value disparity in the December Lower House election was either unconstitutional or invalid, the opposition camp rejects the ruling coalition's plan to rectify the problem.
Editorials Mar 24, 2013
The Tokyo District Court declares unconstitutional an election law provision that strips voting rights from adults who've had guardians chosen for them.