New political parties are no new thing in Japan, but suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, a major new force has appeared. TOKYO (majirox news) — Charismatic Toru Hashimoto, the former governor of Osaka prefecture and currently mayor of Osaka City, has formed a new political party. He has developed into a national political figure...
Read More »
TOKYO (majirox news) — Former Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) leader Ichiro Ozawa’s political career is at the crossroads Sept. 27 following the conviction Monday of three aides for political funding violations. Ozawa, whose membership of the DPJ is currently suspended pending the result of his own trial for having allegedly overseen the aides’...
Read More »
NEW YORK (majirox news) — Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said, “Japan is determined to raise the safety of nuclear power generation to the highest level in the world,” but did not touch on trying to reduce dependence on nuclear power generation during a speech to a UN high-level meeting on nuclear security here on...
Read More »
TOKYO (majirox news) — A ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) taxation committee decided Sept. 22 to propose raising tax rates on cigarettes and inheritances to help fund the cost of the recovery from the March 11 disasters, party sources said. Targeting smokers and will benefeciaries is aimed at keeping down increases in corporate...
Read More »
TOKYO (majirox news) — The ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) has vowed to review its media practices after off-record comments by Yoshio Hachiro were disclosed, causing outrage and leading to his weekend resignation as Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura told reporters Sept. 11 that the DPJ would...
Read More »
TOKYO (majirox news) — New Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said Sept. 2 his Cabinet’s top priority is responding to the Fukushima nuclear crisis. “It takes greater priority over anything else,” Noda told a news conference in Tokyo, referring to the crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant continuing to ooze radiation. Noda made...
Read More »
TOKYO (majirox news) — Companies dependent on domestic demand are growing in fear of new Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda’s preference for raising taxes as they believe it will put the brakes on Japan’s nascent economic recovery. About 60% of Japan’s Gross Domestic Product depends on consumption and any reduction will burden rebuilding of the...
Read More »
TOKYO (majirox news) – Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda was elected president of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) on Aug. 29, paving the way for him to succeed Naoto Kan as Japan’s prime minister. Noda defeated Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Banri Kaieda in a run-off vote after they topped the first round...
Read More »
TOKYO (majirox news) — Prime Minister Naoto Kan kept his word to stand down upon passage through the Diet of a series of bills related to recovery from the March 11 disasters when he resigned as leader of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) on Aug. 26. Kan’s replacement as DPJ president will...
Read More »
TOKYO (majirox news) — Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Banri Kaieda will resign his Cabinet post Aug. 26 to focus on the ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) leadership race, according to one of his closest allies. Prime Minister Naoto Kan announced his resignation today, nearly three months after first indicating he would...
Read More »
