The 2021 Election and Democratic Representation in Japan
November 19, 2021Categories: Japan Political Pulse
Dr. Daniel M. Smith, Gerald L. Curtis Visiting Associate Professor of Modern Japanese Politics and Foreign Policy, Columbia University It has been more than two weeks since Japan’s October 31 House of Representatives election, providing plenty of time for the “hot takes” to cool, and for observers and analysts to chew on what the results
Tags: LDP, Prime Minister Kishida
The 2021 General Election Campaign Kicks Off
October 19, 2021Categories: Japan Political Pulse
Dr. Daniel M. Smith, Gerald L. Curtis Visiting Associate Professor of Modern Japanese Politics and Foreign Policy, Columbia University The campaign for the House of Representatives general election has officially begun, with nine parties offering the electorate a range of policy visions for Japan’s future. Whether these messages will resonate over the 12 days of
Tags: LDP, Prime Minister Kishida
Heavyweights Jostle to Lead LDP into a Suga-Free Diet Election
September 15, 2021Author: Dr. Daniel M. Smith
Categories: Japan Political Pulse
Dr. Daniel M. Smith, Gerald L. Curtis Visiting Associate Professor of Modern Japanese Politics and Foreign Policy, Columbia University In the previous post of Japan Political Pulse, Gerry Curtis asked whether Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga would survive, or “become yet another name on a long list of short lived Japanese prime ministers.” It didn’t take
LDP Fights Back to Win Big in Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly Election
June 30, 2021Author: Satohiro Akimoto
Categories: Japan Political Pulse
Satohiro Akimoto, Chairman and President of Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA Campaigning for the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election began on June 25. A total of 271 candidates will vie for 127 seats in 42 electoral districts for 9 days until July 4, when voters will cast their ballots. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which currently has
From the Strawberry Fields of Akita to Prime Minister of Japan: Getting to Know Prime Minister Suga
September 29, 2020Author: Satohiro Akimoto
Categories: Japan Political Pulse
On September 16, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga became Japan’s first new leader in nearly eight years. He served as former Prime Minister Abe’s Chief Cabinet Secretary throughout the Abe administration. During his tenure, Mr. Suga held two press briefings a day as the government`s primary spokesperson. He became quite a popular politician, becoming known