Politics
Pick Up Stories
Okinawa marks 51st anniversary of revers… [Politics]
May 15th marked the 51st anniversary of Okinawa’s reversion to the Japanese administration in 1972. According to published figures, the Japa...Read More
Futenma base foes gird for battle [Politics]
Opponents of the plan for relocating Futenma Marine Corps Air Station from Ginowan City to the Henoko district of northern Okinawa’s Nago C...Read More
Oliver Stone visiting Okinawa to discuss… [Politics]
American director, producer and screenwriter will be joining a former Okinawa governor and two other panelists on Wednesday, August 14th, to...Read More
Stand-offs in Senkakus costly to JSDF, JCG [Politics]
The Japan Air Self Defense Forces, Maritime Self Defense Forces and the Japan Coast Guard are all becoming weary of the non-stop patrols and challenges required to keep the Chinese...
Prefecture signals neutrality on landfill application [Politics]
The Okinawa prefectural government will not block or reject a central government application for reclamation work needed to carry out a key U.S. air base relocation plan in the sou...
Foreign Minister visits: Fumio Kishida tells Governor “Tokyo’s listening” [Politics]
Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida has visited Okinawa, where he’s met with Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima to ask for his understanding of the central government’s pl...
U.S. takes Japan’s side in China radar issue [Politics]
Japan’s allegation that China “lit up” its weapons-guiding radar twice last month against a Japanese vessel and a helicopter has the U.S. agreeing with Japan that the incidents act...
Envoy predicts China to control Senkaku mess [Politics]
If a top Chinese diplomat has the Senkaku dispute figured out accurately, China will be “controlling” the issue soon enough. A top Chinese academic is adding his thoughts that the ...
U.S. warns China to be careful on messing with Senkakus [Politics]
America’s globe-hopping Secretary of State has put forth a clear warning to China it must be careful about taking any action in and around the Senkaku Islands in southwest Okinawa ...
Tensions over Senkakus keep heating up [Politics]
Japanese officials briefly went to heightened status Monday following the entry of three Chinese maritime surveillance ships into Japanese territorial waters. The 11th Regional Coa...
Japan, U.S. to discuss defense guideline revisions [Politics]
Japan and the United States will soon begin discussions on a planned revision to the guidelines for their defense cooperation. Foreign and defense ministry officials will gather in...
Abe’s Cabinet to hold few surprises [Politics]
Japan got a new Prime Minister yesterday, and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is putting together a Cabinet that looks like old home week, with few outsiders and a number of close allies...
U.S. President congratulates LDP chief on winning election [Politics]
America’s president was fast in recognizing the Democratic Party of Japan’s landslide victory over the ruling Democratic Party of Japan in Sunday’s Lower House election. “I congrat...
Prime Minister Noda resigns DPJ Presidency after loss [Politics]
Saying “I bear the biggest responsibility for the severe defeat” in Sunday’s Lower House of Representatives election that is turning the Democratic Party of Japan out of power, Pri...
New Prime Minister wants to change Constitution [Politics]
In a word, the next Prime Minister of Japan is a “Hawk”. Shinzo Abe, who next week becomes Japan’s seventh Prime Minister in six years, is taking his second spin on the PM machine,...
Opposition trounces ruling party; LDP regains control [Politics]
The Liberal Democratic Party and its partner, New Komeito, racked up 325 seats in Sunday’s Lower House election, reclaiming power after three years of working from the minority opp...
Undecided voters could alter election predictions [Politics]
The pollsters are saying it’s smooth sailing Sunday for the Liberal Democratic Party as it strives to unseat the ruling Democratic Party of Japan in Lower House of Representatives ...
LDP should easily win Sunday Lower House election [Politics]
The conservative Liberal Democratic Party is comfortably in the lead to win Sunday’s general election, with its main competitors, Nippon Ishin no Kai, the Japan Restoration Party, ...
Abe rejects making any deals with DPJ [Politics]
The head of the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party and the man expected to become Japan’s next Prime Minister following elections upcoming on Sunday says he’s not going to ma...
Former PM thinks retired JMSDF warships could defend Senkakus [Politics]
Nearly every political leader has an idea for defending the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, and that includes a former Prime Minister who thinks retired Maritime Self Defens...
LDP lead shrinks in run-up to December 16th election [Politics]
The crucial Lower House elections set for a week from Sunday will set the tenor for Japan’s next year, and the opposition Liberal Democratic Party is struggling to hang on to its l...
U.S. watching polls and promises to work with winner [Politics]
From the State Department to the White House, all eyes are on Japan’s December 16th Lower House of Representatives election, and the State Department is assuring everyone in Japan ...
Opposition LDP leading In all pre-election polls [Politics]
The principal opposition party in Japan, the Liberal Democratic Party ousted from power in August 2009, is now being heavily favored to win Lower House elections set for December 1...