Politics of Japan | GlobalPost

LDP wants citizens to open own websites to get more info from gov't

Kyodo News InternationalMay 18, 2013 12:00

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party proposes to have each citizen open his or her own website so the government can provide administrative information customized to one's needs, according to a draft obtained by Kyodo News on Saturday. Among the proposals of an LDP strategy to boost information technology, online information from the national and municipal level will be provided for every individual based on factors such as age and family composition, the draft showed.

Abe aide Iijima returns home after 4-day N. Korea visit

Kyodo News InternationalMay 18, 2013 03:48

An adviser to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe arrived in Tokyo from Beijing on Saturday, a day after he completed a four-day unannounced visit to North Korea that has sparked concern from the United States and South Korea. Before leaving China, Isao Iijima told journalists at Beijing Capital International Airport that he will not "discuss anything about this case." Asked if he would brief Abe on the trip later Saturday, Iijima said, "I don't know."

Abe said he will visit Myanmar soon to help its economic development

Kyodo News InternationalMay 17, 2013 07:46

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Friday he will visit Myanmar "soon" with the aim of helping the Southeast Asian nation's economic development. "I will not hold back from any cooperation" for the development of Myanmar, which has overcome a great number of difficulties, Abe said in a speech on his government's growth strategy. The Japanese government and the public sector will "work as one" to assist Myanmar, Abe said.

LDP once again biggest receiver of subsidies to political parties

Kyodo News InternationalMay 16, 2013 08:15

Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party is once again the biggest receiver of political subsidies thanks to its landslide victory in the Dec. 12, 2012 general election for the House of Representatives, or the lower house, government data showed Thursday. The party received 14.55 billion yen (about $142 million) in 2013, an increase of 4.39 billion yen from a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, which decides the allotment of the subsidies.

Japan's parliament approves $906 billion budget to revive economy

The Canadian PressMay 15, 2013 11:31

TOKYO - Japan's parliament has approved a record-high 92.6 trillion yen ($906.2 billion) budget for this fiscal year, raising military spending for the first time in 11 years and boosting public works outlays to help revive the economy. The budget was approved late Wednesday after the lower house of parliament, whose decision takes precedence, overrode its rejection by the opposition-dominated upper house. The lower house, which passed the budget on April 16, is controlled by a coalition led by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

Parties bicker as Diet to dismiss committee chair over China visit

Kyodo News InternationalMay 8, 2013 11:33

Political bickering intensified Wednesday between the ruling and opposition camps in Japan, as the House of Councillors is expected to dismiss the chairwoman of one of its committees on Thursday after she extended her trip to China last month without Diet approval. The conflict, which could sting Prime Minister Shinzo Abe ahead of an upper house election this summer, came amid growing tension over a territorial dispute between Japan and China.

Political feud intensifies over Kawaguchi's China visit

Kyodo News InternationalMay 8, 2013 06:40

The ruling and opposition camps in Japan intensified their conflict Wednesday over the extension of stay in China by former Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi, with the governing coalition boycotting a Diet session in a rare move that heightened tensions. The feud, which could be a sting for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe ahead of a House of Councillors election this summer, came amid a territorial dispute between Japan and China.

Hashimoto clarifies remarks on "comfort women" after flak

Kyodo News InternationalMay 7, 2013 12:30

Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto on Wednesday sought to clarify his remarks on a system to recruit women into sexual servitude for Japan's soldiers during World War II, saying he personally does not condone the scheme. Two days after he made controversial remarks that the so-called comfort women were "necessary to maintain discipline" in the Japanese military, Hashimoto told reporters he simply stated a fact that people at the time had that kind of view.

Japan, France agree N. Korea should not be allowed to go nuclear

Kyodo News InternationalMay 7, 2013 10:00

Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and his French counterpart Laurent Fabius agreed Tuesday that North Korea should not be allowed to possess nuclear weapons and the international community must keep sending that message. During a meeting in Tokyo, the top foreign policy chiefs also agreed that the two countries should strengthen the exchange of information to ensure safety for firms operating in Asia and Africa, Kishida told a news conference. The two countries will consider developing concrete ways to that end, he added.

Opposition seeks to have LDP lawmaker dismissed as Diet panel chief

Kyodo News InternationalMay 7, 2013 08:00

Opposition parties on Tuesday submitted to the Diet a resolution to have a senior ruling lawmaker dismissed as chairwoman of a parliamentary committee after she extended her visit to China in April without their consensus, leading the panel to cancel a session. The opposition-controlled House of Councillors is expected to pass the resolution as early as Thursday calling for Yoriko Kawaguchi, a Liberal Democratic Party member, to be dismissed as head of the upper chamber's Environment Committee. It would be the first such dismissal in Japanese politics.