News

DPJ Grabs Tokyo Poll Spoils/Becomes Largest Party in Assembly; LDP Left Licking Wounds, Daily Yomiuri (2009)

The opposition Democratic Party of Japan became the biggest party in Tokyo Metropolitan Area in assembly election on Sunday 12 July. The election is widely regarded as a barometer for the upcoming general election this autumn.

Election Set For Aug.30/ Aso to Dissolve Lower House Next Tuesday at Earliest, Daily Yomiuri (2009)

In the light of the LDP party electoral loss in local elections in Tokyo, the incumbent government and the ruling bloc decided to dissolve the House of Representatives and hold a general election on August 30. Prime Minister Taro Aso and ruling coalition senior members decided that the election will be officially announced on August 18.

Can DPJ deliver on its promises?, Daily Yomiuri (2009)

This article is part of a series named "Election 2009 - Battle for Power", on the upcoming parliamentary elections of Japan. This article examines the Democratic Party of Japan's (DPJ) election manifesto and it's implications for the country.

DPJ moves up 26,000 yen outlay on child care, Daily Yomiuri (2009)

This article is part of a series named "Election 2009 - Battle for Power", on the upcoming parliamentary elections of Japan. It continues to examine the election manifesto of the DPJ (Democratic Party of Japan).

Opposition parties DPJ, SDP far apart on national security, Daily Yomiuri (2009)

This article is part of a series named "Election 2009 - Battle for Power", on the upcoming parliamentary elections of Japan. It focuses on the security policy outlined in the manifestos of two of the opposition parties: DPJ (Democratic Party of Japan) and SDP (Social Democratic Party), who would likely be coalition partners in the case of an opposition victory in the upcoming elections.

Parties clash on pension reform, Daily Yomiuri (2009)

This article is part of a series named "Election 2009 - Battle for Power", on the upcoming parliamentary elections of Japan. The article discusses one of the main issues identified by voters for the upcoming elections, pension reform, and how the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and New Komeito coalition strategy differs from the opposition, mainly represented by the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ).

Survey: DPJ poised to win over 300 seats, Daily Yomiuri (2009)

This article is part of a series named "Election 2009 - Battle for Power" on the upcoming parliamentary elections in Japan. The Democratic Party of Japan might win more than 300 seats in the upcoming House of Representatives election, scoring a comprehensive win both in single-seat constituencies and the proportional representation segment, according to a Yomiuri Shimbun survey and analysis. The article also notices the public's increased interest in the elections.

Japan's Hatoyama sweeps to power, BBC (2009)

Exit polls of the general elections held on August 30 showed opposition party Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) winning a landslide victory over the incumbent government led by Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Yukio Hatoyama is likely to be confirmed as Prime Minister within the next two weeks. Incumbent Prime Minister Taro Aso announced his resignation following the election results.

In landslide, DPJ wins over 300 seats, Japan Times (2009)

The Democratic Party of Japan won the Lower House election by a landslide Sunday, grabbing more than 300 seats in the 480-seat chamber. The victory by the main opposition party will end more than half a century of almost uninterrupted rule by the Liberal Democratic Party.

Japan PM eyes crucial election as problems mount, Reuters (2010)

As the voter support for the ruling Democratic Party has slid below 50% since the general election in August 2009, the upcoming upper house election this year is seen as crucial by both main parties.

Japan govt support slips ahead of election - poll, Reuters (2010)

Support for Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and his cabinet slid to just over 30 percent in a poll published by Jiji news agency on Friday, boding ill for the ruling party in a key mid-year election.

Japan:'Your Party' sets bar high for joining gov't after upper house race, Kyodo News (2010)

Small opposition parties will face difficulties in joining a coalition government in the future. This will probably happen if the Democratic Party of Japan will not gain the majority of the seats in the House in the upcoming elections.

Japanese PM Hatoyama quits before elections, Indian Express (2010)

This article discusses the resignation of the Japanese Prime Minister, Yukio Hatoyama. His party, the Democratic Party of Japan, pressured him into this decision after his popularity fell in the past weeks. The Japanese people will elect a new parliament in July.

Japan PM quits to boost party fortunes at poll, The Independent (2010)

This article comments the resignation of the Japanese Prime Minister, Yukio Hatoyama. The PM party, the Democratic Party of Japan, is campaigning for the upcoming elections and pressured Hatoyama to resign.

Japan PM eyes July election, opposition resists, Reuters (2010)

In Japan, the opposition Liberal Democratic Party presented a motion of no-confidence to the Cabinet. This motion was voted down in the lower house, where the ruling Democratic Party of Japan holds a strong majority of the seats. According to the opposition, the newly-appointed Prime Minister Naoto Kan has no popular mandate. On July 11, the Japanese voters will elect a new upper house.

Policies at stake in Japan's upper house election, Reuters (2010)

This article reports on the latest updates for the Japanese upcoming elections. The economic issues are at the centre of the electoral campaign, together with foreign policy issues (specifically, the U.S. military base in Futenma).

Tweeters in Japan fall silent in election campaign, Hindustan Times (2010)

This article discusses the use of Twitter in the Japanese electoral campaign. In Japan, Twitter is a huge phenomenon (tweets peaked during the soccer World Cup), yet it is not playing a significant role in the campaign for the June 11 elections.

Celebrity candidates face tough road in Japan poll, Reuters (2010)

This article discusses the candidacy of Olympic medalist Ryoko Tani to the July 11 elections. Observers believe that fame alone will not let him her win these elections. The article also discusses the (not always successful) relationships between celebrities and politics.

Japan: UPPER HOUSE ELECTION 2010 / Consumption tax overshadows other issues, Daily Yomiuri (2010)

This article discusses some of the major issues for the upcoming Upper House elections. Among the dominant campaign topics is the consumption tax. Opposition parties are also seeking to expand the topics in the election debates.

Japan: Kan refuses debate with eight rivals, The Japan Times (2010)

Prime Minister Naoto Kan has said the does not wish to appear in a TV debate with the eight other candidates. Kan has said that he does not want to participate in a debate where all the other candidates may be pitted against him.

Japan DPJ could hit PM target in July 11 poll: report, Reuters Canada (2010)

A recent poll indicates that the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) may fail to get enough seats for a majority, but could keep current Prime Minister Naoto Kan in power. The DPJ currently controls the lower house.

Japan PM in danger of missing election target: report, Reuters (2010)

The Democratic Party of Japan will likely still run the government, regardless of the election results on June 12 as it controls the more powerful lower house of parliament, but a poor showing could complicate policy-making.

Japan:ELECTION 2010 / 4 mil. take advantage of early voting, Daily Yomiuri (2010)

More than million people voted early for Sunday's House of Councilors election, Tokyo had the most early voters. Early voting continues until Saturday.

Japan:Over 50% of homeless want chance to vote, The Japan Times (2010)

A survey indicates that more than fifty percent of the homeless would vote if they were allowed. A resident registration is required to vote in Japan the group that conducted the survey plans to petition the government to allow people to vote without it.

Japan:UPPER HOUSE ELECTION 2010 / Playing the numbers game, Daily Yomiuri (2010)

This article discusses the ambitions of three smaller parties in the upcoming upper house election. achieving the ten seat threshold would afford the smaller parties major roles in debate and ability to propose bills.

Japan's Ruling Party Faces Battle, Wall Street Journal (2010)

Due to a decrease of popular support in recent weeks the ruling Democratic Party of Japan will face a difficult battle to gain a majority in the upcoming upper house election.

Japan:UPPER HOUSE ELECTION 2010 / Municipal poll stations drop by 3,000, The Daily Yomiuri (2010)

Due to budget cuts 3,000 polling stations have been closed. To ensure the public was able to participate in the Upper House elections in spite of the decreased number of stations, ad-hoc early voting stations were opened in community centres.

Japan elections setback to new prime minister, The Los Angeles Times (2010)

This article comments the unofficial results of Sunday's parliamentary elections in Japan. Apparently, the ruling Democratic Party lost was defeated. Prime Minister Naoto Kan's party, however, still holds a majority in the lower chamber.

Japan's ruling party loses key election as public's faith wanes, Xinhua (2010)

This article reports on the latest results of the Sunday parliamentary elections in Japan. The ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) lost many seats in the upper house, to the advantage of the opposing Liberal Democratic Party. The DPJ still hold a majority in the house of representatives.

Japan PM: to stay after upper house election loss, Reuters (2010)

This article discusses the Japanese Prime Minister's decision to stay in office despite the loss in the Sunday elections of the upper house. The government's ability to pass new reforms, however, is seriously weakened.

Japan whips incumbents, The Wall Street Journal (2010)

This article discusses the political effects of the recent election results in Japan. The ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) lost seats in the upper house (from 54 to 44 seats out of 121), after only 10 months in power. Sunday's elections demonstrated the people's disenchantment with the DPJ's reforms so far.

Japan: Photos: Election Day, The Wall Street Journal (2010)

This is a slideshow of a series of pictures taken on Election Day in Japan. Voting operations and vote counting procedures are thoroughly documented.

Support surges for Japan's new party, Financial Times (2010)

This article discusses the success of the new and increasingly popular Your Party in Japan. The leader of Your Party's plans to create a 'third force' in the Japanese political arena seems to be successful. As a matter of fact, Your Party won 10 seats in the upper house in the Sunday elections.

Japan's ruling party faces uphill battle after election defeat, VOA (2010)

This article presents the political situation in Japan after Sunday's elections. As the opposition party takes over the upper house, Prime Minister Naoto Kan will face obstacles in carrying on his reforms.

Japan: The real reasons for Kan's election setback, Financial Times (2010)

This article analyzes the results of the upper house elections in Japan. The defeat is the result of deep disappointment at the Democratic Party of Japan’s performance so far.

Japan PM hit by party's local election losses, Reuters (2011)

This article reports on the results of the local elections in Japan. Candidates from the ruling Democratic Party of Japan lost the gubernatorial and mayoral elections held on Sunday (Feb. 6th). The main opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), however, did not succeeded in winning over the electorate: independent candidates prevailed in the polls.

Japan: Kawamura, Omura win in elections, The Japan Times (2011)

This article reports on the results of the local elections in Japan. These elections opened a series of local elections in the country, which represents a major test for the ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ). Mayor Takashi Kawamura - former DPJ member - won his re-election bid, and also his ally Hideaki Omura was elected governor of Aichi Prefecture.

Japan's ruling party goes zero for two, The Wall Street Journal (2011)

This article discusses the consequences of the Sunday local elections in Japan. Prime Minister Naoto Kan's popularity hit 30% in public opinion polls last week, and the leading party will face major challenges in the upcoming election year: the Sunday polls were only the first of a long list of regional elections scheduled for 2011.

Kan’s DPJ Suffers Election Setback One Month After Japan Quake, Bloomberg (2011)

The article reports that the governing Democratic Party of Japan faced a setback in prefectural assembly elections. The result of the polls reflects the discontent in government's handling of the March 11 earthquake.

Japan: Moves escalate to topple Kan after poor election results, Asahi.com (2011)

The article discusses local assembly elections in Japan held on April 24. Candidates backed by PM Kan's Democratic Party of Japan were less succesful than opposition-backed candidates.

Japanese vote in general election, BBC News (2012)

Elections in Japan challenge the current Prime Minister amid growing tensions with China.

Japan: "Abenomics holds spotlight as campaign window opens", The Japan News (2014)