The Latest Breaking News from LDP

In home of world's biggest nuclear plant, a vote may shape Japan's atomic future

Three days before a vote to choose their region's next governor, a handful of residents in Kashiwazaki, a sleepy coastal town in northern Japan, stood by a road to hear the race's long-shot contender warning of the dangers of nuclear power.

Reuters · May 27, 2022

Govt to discuss 'substantial' increase in defense budget

The government and ruling parties plan to begin full-scale discussions to boost the country's defense budget in the next fiscal year and beyond, after Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told U.S. President Joe Biden during the pair's summit in Tokyo on Monday that Japan will secure "a substantial increase" in its…

The Japan News/Yomiuri · May 25, 2022

Behind the scenes in Japan, a welcome for Biden's defence of Taiwan

For Japan, U.S. President Joe Biden's comment he would be willing to use force to defend Taiwan signalled no formal change in policy. But behind the scenes in Tokyo, it was seen as a welcome warning at a time of growing alarm over China.

Reuters · May 24, 2022

Online deliberations in Japan's Diet 'possible' under the Constitution

Online deliberations in the Diet could soon become a reality after the House of Representatives' Commission on the Constitution voted Thursday to adopt a report stating that it was constitutionally permissible in the event of an emergency.

The Japan News/Yomiuri · Mar 5, 2022

Suga's reputation reappraised within LDP

Former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's standing in the Liberal Democratic Party appears to be on the up, amid a revaluation of his efforts during his premiership, such as the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

The Japan News/Yomiuri · Feb 19, 2022

Civic Rights for Foreign Residents Sparks Backlash in Japan

Voting rights for foreigners wasn’t an issue in Japan’s general elections last year, yet conservative mass media latched onto a proposal by the city assembly of Musashino in suburban Tokyo, making it an issue of national security.

The News Lens · Feb 14, 2022

LDP resolution condemns 5 ex-prime ministers for spreading false information

The Liberal Democratic Party has approved a resolution condemning five former prime ministers, including Junichiro Koizumi, for disseminating false information regarding the accident at Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc.'s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.

The Japan News/Yomiuri · Feb 9, 2022

Appropriateness of term 'enemy base attack' debated among Japan's government, ruling parties

As the government and the ruling parties discuss Japan's possession of the "capability to attack enemy bases," or the ability to destroy missile launch bases for self-defense, the appropriateness of that term is being called into question.

The Japan News/Yomiuri · Feb 6, 2022

Lower house passes resolution on human rights concerns, with China in mind

The House of Representatives has passed a resolution expressing concerns regarding the human rights situation in Chinese areas such as Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, without naming China or using expressions such as "human rights violation."

The Japan News/Yomiuri · Feb 2, 2022

Kishida looks to stabilize political base with World Heritage nomination

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's decision to nominate the Sado Gold Mine for registration on the UNESCO World Heritage list was likely based on a belief that delaying a decision amid opposition from South Korea would not have been supported by members of the Liberal Democratic Party and conservative lawmakers.

The Japan News/Yomiuri · Jan 29, 2022