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Japan Politics - Page 5

Japan's new PM picks allies for key Cabinet spots
Local Japanese News In English

Japan's new prime minister picked close allies Friday for key positions in his Cabinet as he tries to steer his troubled nation through disaster recovery, a nuclear crisis and a lengthy economic slump. Yoshihiko Noda, a surprise choice for prime minister when he took control of the ruling party this week, is bringing along some fresh faces to the Cabinet, including 47-year-old Koichiro Gemba as foreign minister and 49-year-old Jun Azumi as finance minister. Both are relatively young in a Japanese political world normally dominated by elder statesmen, and both are closely allied with Noda. (AP)
Source: News On Japan

Politics Japan

Analysis: New Japan PM a bureaucrats' puppet or puppet master
Local Japanese News In English

New Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda is moving to repair the government's battered relations with bureaucrats in hopes of mobilizing their expertise, but some worry his government will end up as puppet rather than puppet master. Noda took office last week as Japan's sixth premier in five years and the third since his Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) took power in 2009 pledging to change how the country is run. A promise to prise control of policymaking away from elite bureaucrats and put politicians in charge was a key element of the party's platform, and one popular with many voters for whom bureaucrats had become symbols of a discredited past regime. (Reuters)
Source: News On Japan

Japan Politics History & Civil Business Politics

Negative: Nothing - Step by Step for Japan
Local Japanese News In English

March 11th marks a turning point in the life of Swiss travel agent Thomas Kohler. After the Tsunami and the nuclear disaster in Japan he loses all his customers, and eventually his job. Nevertheless, giving up is not an option. He decides to walk through Japan, 2900 kilometers from north to south, in order to show that not all of Japan is Fukushima. A trip of a lifetime starts through a country trying to cope with its biggest crisis since the end of World War II, but never losing hope for better days. The documentary film 'negative: nothing' is a journey that changes the life of a travel agent forever and gives hope and strength to a nation. Even the longest journey starts with a single step. (YouTube)
Source: News On Japan

Page 5 Politics Japan

Japan's Middle East soft power
Local Japanese News In English

Heavily dependent on oil from the Middle East, Japan has been keen to encourage stability. But there are limits to what Japan's soft power push can do in the region. Through a dirty, misty morning haze, Ajloun castle rises up over the north Jordanian town of the same name. In a cold classroom, a pair of Japanese teachers lead a class of five and six year-olds through a song well known to any Japanese child. "Ito maki maki," they sing. "Ito maki maki. Hite hite. Ton ton ton." (The Diplomat)
Source: News On Japan

Politics Japan

Japan PM heads for election victory

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ruling bloc looks set for a handsome upper house election win, cementing his grip on power and setting the stage for Japan's first stable government since the charismatic Junichiro Koizumi left office in 2006. Ref. Source 9

Japan Politics

Amari To Remain As Japan Economy Minister After Cancer Diagnosis
Local Japanese News In English

Japan's Economy Minister Akira Amari said he will take leave for two weeks to receive treatment for early-stage cancer of the tongue. (Bloomberg)
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Japan Politics - Page 5

Japan Diet OKs Lowering Referendum Voting Age To 18
Local Japanese News In English

The Diet, Japan's parliament, enacted a bill Friday to lower the minimum voting age in national referendums on constitutional amendments to 18 from 20 four years after the related law revision comes into effect. (Jiji Press)
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Japan Politics Politics Business Civil & History - Page 5

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has called for snap parliamentary elections for next month, following news that the country had slipped into a recession.

Abe also announced a 18-month delay in a controversial sales tax hike during a press conference Tuesday.

The prime minister said he will dissolve the parliament's lower house on Friday. Ref. CNN