The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its junior partner, Komeito, have finalized their respective emergency economic stimulus packages, both centering on steps to bolster domestic demand that has been sluggish since the April 1 consumption tax hike. The packages include measures to invigorate regional economies ...
Democratic Party of Japan member and former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku has announced he will retire from politics and will not run in next month's general election, saying he wants to make way for the younger generation. The 68-year-old lawyer-turned-politician was a prominent figure ...
Businesses have mixed reaction to putting off sales tax hike
The business community voiced mixed reactions Tuesday to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's decision to delay the next consumption tax hike and call a snap election for the Lower House. "We were concerned about slowing consumption," an official at a restaurant chain said, welcoming Abe's decision ...
Tokihiro Nakamura was re-elected governor of Ehime Prefecture on Sunday, defeating a challenger backed by the Japanese Communist Party to secure a second four-year term. The focus of the campaign was limited to Nakamura's handling of prefectural affairs. Regarding the potential restart of Shikoku Electric Power ...
Voting begins to pick new Okinawa governor; moving U.S. base is top issue
Voting started Sunday in Okinawa to pick a governor in an election that could determine the fate of the contentious relocation of a key U.S. military base. The gubernatorial election is the first opportunity for the people of Okinawa, home to the bulk of U.S. ...
As Okinawa votes, Futenma base looms
In an election widely viewed as the final referendum on relocating the U.S. Futenma base within their prefecture, Okinawans prepare to choose a new governor.
Two opposition parties consider merging ahead of expected snap election
The main opposition Democratic Party of Japan and Your Party, a small opposition group, are considering merging ahead of the snap election that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is expected to call soon, party officials said Friday. The two parties have also sounded out the Japan ...
The political parties represented in the Diet took a step Friday toward lowering the nation's minimum voting age from 20 to the international norm of 18, in line with an accord reached earlier this year. The parties agreed to revise the Public Offices Election Law ...
Osaka mayor mulls options in event of snap Lower House election
If a snap Lower House election is held next month, one of the candidates may be Osaka Mayor and Japan Restoration Party co-leader Toru Hashimoto. Asked by reporters Wednesday whether he would run, Hashimoto said he was considering "various options" and that it couldn't be ...
George W. Bush likes the idea of Jeb vs. Hillary in 2016 presidential race
Never mind the potential for name fatigue. Former U.S. President George W. Bush likes the idea of a 2016 presidential matchup between his Republican brother Jeb Bush and Democrat Hillary Clinton. In an interview as part of the rollout of a book he has written ...
