New opposition parties still lagging behind the LDP—but many voters undecided
Author: Tobias Harris
Categories: Japan Political Pulse
With four days until the campaign for Japan’s October 22 general election officially begins, the outlook for the vote is still extremely fluid. Polls show significant numbers of undecided voters, but also suggest that Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike’s newly formed Party of Hope is struggling to connect with independent voters.
Tags: Abe, cdpj, dp, DPJ, foreign policy, japan political pulse, jpp, Komeito, LDP, Liberal Democratic Party, party of hope, Politics, polls, public opinion, security, Shinzo Abe, tobias harris, yuriko koike
U.S.-Japan cooperation in defense, trade, and cybersecurity discussed at Fourth Annual Security Forum
Author: Hayley Aron
Categories: Sasakawa USA Blog
Sasakawa USA’s Fourth Annual Security Forum brought together government officials, academics, and security experts for a day-long conference on Asian security within the context of the U.S.-Japan alliance. The event provided diverse views on challenging issues with panel discussions on topics such as congressional views on trade, U.S.-Japan defense policies, the North Korean threat, and cybersecurity cooperation.
Tags: Annual Security Forum, China, Congress, cybersecurity, Diet, DPJ, Japan, LDP, missile defense, North Korea, North Korea missile, South Korea, TPP, Trans-Pacific Partnership
Can laws control Japan’s hate epidemic?
Author: Furuya Tsunehira
Categories: In-Depth with Nippon.com
On May 24, the National Diet finally took action to stem Japan’s rising tide of racism and xenophobia with the nation’s first law targeting hate speech. Author Furuya Tsunehira assesses the impact and limitations of this legislation and the challenges that remain if Japan is to control the pestilence in advance of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Tags: anti-foreigner, anti-korean, cyber-nationalism, Democratic Party of Japan, demonstration, DPJ, hate groups, hate speech, Japan, LDP, liberal democratic party of japan, netto uyoku, Politics, rally, right-wing, Shinzo Abe, xenophobia, zaitokukai
Teen Voters and Politics in Japan
Author: Satō Shin
Categories: In-Depth with Nippon.com
This July, in the first national election since the lowering of the voting age, young people seemed to endorse the status quo. But voting is not the only form of political activity. Adult voters should reconsider their own approach to politics.
Tags: DPJ, elections, Japan, LDP, SEALDs, silver democracy, teen voters, teenage voters, Tokyo, Upper House Election
The “Inconvenient Truth” Behind Japan’s Toothless Media
Author: Okumura Nobuyuki
Categories: In-Depth with Nippon.com
Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Takaichi Sanae caused a stir in February with a comment that broadcasters continuing to air politically biased programs may be shut down. Pressure from the Abe administration continues to mount, but the media has been hesitant to fight back.
Tags: bias, broadcast, DPJ, election, hirakawa club, impartiality, Japan, journalism, LDP, media, media bias, NHK, nippon.com, Politics, press club, reporters, Reporters Without Borders, Shinzo Abe, tv asahi, tv media, tv news, world press freedom index