Japan election

1 November 2024
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks to reporters at LDP headquarters in Tokyo on Oct. 27. (Photo by Mizuho Miyazaki)
After his party's coalition lost its majority in Oct. 27's election, incumbent Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, right, must seek new coalition partners or try ruling in a minority government. Meanwhile main opposition party leader, Yoshihiko Noda, left, is trying to put together a ruling coalition of his own. (Photos by Konosuke Urata, Uichiro Kasai and Mizuho Miyazaki)
Policy Asia

Japan's PM deck shuffles show political system built on shaky foundations

Ishiba's struggle after election blow heralds era of uncertainty, bureaucratic power

1 November 2024
Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks to the media at Liberal Democratic Party headquarters in Tokyo on Oct.  27.
Opinion

Japan's election sows confusion but the political center holds -- for now

Low turnout and gains for fringe parties hint at possible emergence of populism

1 November 2024
The U.S. plans to co-produce advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles in Japan with Mitsubishi Electric. (U.S. Navy photo)
Defense

U.S. defense industry strategy stumbles into Japan's political uncertainty

Plans for ship repair, missile co-production are crucial to counter China, Pentagon says

31 October 2024
Japan's parliament is preparing to choose a prime minister after the ruling coalition lost its lower house majority in the Oct. 27 election. (Photo by Nikkei)
Japan election

Japan's parliament convenes Nov. 11 to choose prime minister

After losing majority, LDP courts support to defend Ishiba as top leader

31 October 2024
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks at a press conference at the headquarters of the Liberal Democratic Party in Tokyo on Oct. 28. (Photo by Uichiro Kasai)
The Nikkei View

Japan's political parties must avoid policy stagnation after election

With ruling coalition losing majority, opposition camp should show responsibility

30 October 2024
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's fate remains unclear without promising coalition options for his Liberal Democratic Party. (Photo by Uichiro Kasai)
Japan election

Japan's Ishiba eyes minority government after opposition shuns coalition

LDP seen pursuing 'partial' alliance with DPP to retain power after election loss

30 October 2024
A member of Secret Service cycles past Japanese and U.S. flags hanging side by side on the Eisenhower Executive Office Building adjacent to the White House in Washington. 
Japan election

Japan PM Ishiba's 'disastrous' election loss shocks U.S.

Political chaos in Japan may derail defense reforms at critical time, officials worry

29 October 2024
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, right, is expected to face off with Constitutional Democratic Party leader Yoshihiko Noda at an upcoming parliamentary session to keep his post. (Source images by Uichiro Kasai, Mizuho Miyazaki)
Japan election

Japan's LDP and opposition scramble for votes to name prime minister

Uncertainty looms over Ishiba's fate with neither top party in majority

29 October 2024
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who is also leader of the Liberal Democratic Party,  attends a press conference on Oct. 28 in Tokyo.
Japan election

Japan's Ishiba indicates he will stay on as prime minister

But leader acknowledges 'harsh judgment' after lower house election drubbing

28 October 2024
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Japan election

Japan election: How a bad night for Ishiba's LDP unfolded

Opposition CDP score big gains; PM says results 'very severe' for ruling party

28 October 2024
The yen is likely to suffer while the ruling coalition seeks alliances with smaller opposition parties for the upper house election, experts say.  (Photo by Yutaka Miyaguchi)
Japan election

Yen falls to 3 month low after ruling coalition's loss; stocks surge

LDP-led bloc seen shifting to expansionary measures to win July election

28 October 2024
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, left, and Yoshihiko Noda, leader of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party, are pictured on Oct. 27. (Source photos by Akitoshi Sugiura and Uichiro Kasai)
Japan election

Japan's ruling LDP coalition loses majority for first time since 2009

Prime Minister Ishiba hints at working with other parties to form next government

28 October 2024
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will face a postelection scramble for power following his Liberal Democratic Party's loss of its majority in the Oct. 27 lower house election.
Japan election

Japan PM Ishiba's fate hangs in balance after big election loss

Diet will vote to choose leader, with Ishiba-Noda showdown likely

28 October 2024
Japanese voters cast ballots for the lower house election at a polling station in Tokyo on Oct. 27.
Japan election

Japanese voters go to polls in tough test for ruling coalition

Lower house majority at stake as public trust wanes in wake of scandals

27 October 2024
Indonesia's new president, Prabowo Subianto, is sworn in during his inauguration at the House of Representatives building in Jakarta on Oct. 20. (Photo by Antara Foto)
Editor-in-Chief’s Picks

Letter from Nikkei Asia's editor: Politics and the power of numbers

Shin Nakayama shares his weekly reflections and recommendations

25 October 2024
Japan's ruling coalition is at risk of losing its majority in the 465-seat lower house in the Oct. 27 election. (Photo by Sae Kamae)
25 October 2024
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Video

5 ways Japan's elections are unique

Cars with loudspeakers and vote splitting can make selecting the nation's leaders a bit different

24 October 2024
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, right, faces opposition from Yoshihiko Noda, the leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party, as the nation goes to the polls on Oct. 27. (Photos by Suzu Takahashi and Uichiro Kasai)
Japan election

Japan's uncertain lower house election outlook: What's at stake?

Voters are expected to be tough on the long-ruling LDP after a funding scandal

23 October 2024
Leading parties are promising to bump the minimum wage to 1,500 yen ($10.06) per hour by 2029, up more than 40% from the current 1,054 yen. (Photos by Koji Uema and Kotaro Igarashi)
Japan election

Japanese politicians' vow to up minimum wage by 40% raises concerns

Push comes as SMEs are already struggling to pass on higher prices

22 October 2024
All 465 seats of Japan's lower house will be up for grabs in the upcoming election on Oct. 27. (Photo by Uichiro Kasai)
Japan election

Japan's LDP at risk of losing majority in lower house election: poll

Political fundraising scandal erodes support for ruling party

17 October 2024
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, center, and leaders of other political parties, are pictured. The parties will contest 465 lower house seats in a general election on Oct.27. (Source photos by Sae Kamae and Yusuke Hinata)
Japan election

Japan election campaign kicks off; 465 lower house seats up for grabs

PM Shigeru Ishiba and his scandal-hit ruling party have 12 days to sway voters

15 October 2024
Japan's ruling coalition held 288 out of 465 seats in the lower house before Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba dissolved the chamber on Oct. 9.
Japan election

Japanese parties sprint toward Oct. 27 vote under new leadership

PM Ishiba under pressure to maintain ruling LDP's majority in lower house

10 October 2024
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, standing at far right in the first row, and members of his cabinet watch as Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers raise their hands and cheer after the dissolution of the lower house of Japan's parliament was announced on Oct. 9 in Tokyo. (Photo by Uichiro Kasai)
Japan's new PM

Japan's Ishiba dissolves parliament's lower house for snap election

New leader faces challenge keeping seats after ruling party political funds scandal

9 October 2024
Shigeru Ishiba, president of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party and presumptive new prime minister, speaks at a news conference on Sept. 30 at LDP headquarters in Tokyo. (Photo by Yuji Murakami)
Japan's new PM

Japan's Ishiba calls for general election on Oct. 27 in test for new leader

Presumptive PM to seek mandate amid criticism of scandal-hit ruling party

30 September 2024
Eri Arfiya, 34, of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party was among a record number of female winners in Japan's April elections (Photo by Mayumi Tsumita)
Gender

Japanese women post record election wins in gender equality push

But conservative streak in ruling party, rural areas throws up hurdles to change

5 May 2023
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is thought to be weighing when to call a lower house election, after his ruling LDP won four of five seats in by-elections over the weekend.
Politics

Snap poll looms in Japan after Kishida's LDP wins by-elections

PM thought to be weighing two options for early dissolution of lower house

24 April 2023
Liberal Democratic Party candidate Arfiya Eri, left, addresses supporters in the early hours of April 24 after being projected to win a lower house seat in Chiba prefecture. (Photo by Mayumi Tsumita)
Japan election

Japan's ruling LDP wins four of five seats in Diet by-elections

Emboldened coalition seen as likely to press PM Kishida to call snap election

24 April 2023
"If Japan requests assistance with improving any of their capabilities, we would certainly work to provide that," U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told Nikkei in an interview.
Interview

U.S. ready to help Japan improve counterstrike capability

NSC official John Kirby says U.S.-Japan alliance entering 'modern age'

13 January 2023
On the 77th anniversary of the end of World War II, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, left, offers flowers at Chidorigafuchi National Cemetery in Tokyo, while South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol speaks at a ceremony in Seoul. (Source photos by Suzu Takahashi and Reuters) 
Japan-South Korea rift

South Korea's Yoon vows to 'swiftly' improve Japan ties

On WWII anniversary, Kishida talks of global cooperation to solve world's problems

15 August 2022