Suspect in explosives attack on Japan's prime minister is indicted for attempted murder

Sep 06 (devdiscourse.com) - Japanese prosecutors formally indicted a 24-year-old man Wednesday on attempted murder and other charges in the explosives attack on Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in April, court officials said.

Kishida was campaigning for elections in a small fishing port in Wakayama in western Japan when a man at the speech venue suddenly threw a homemade pipe bomb at him. Kishida was unhurt, but two people had minor injuries. Suspect Ryuji Kimura, 24, was arrested on the spot and had been on a three-month psychiatric evaluation sought by the local prosecutors to determine if he is mentally fit for trial. Police and prosecutors also determined that the bomb used in the attack was lethal, according to local media reports.

Prosecutors formally indicted Kimura on an attempted murder charge and four others, including violation of the gun and swords control law and the explosives control law, according to the Wakayama District Court, which accepted the indictment. Trial dates have yet to be decided, court officials said. In the indictment, prosecutors allege that Kimura threw the handmade pipe bomb at Kishida with an intent to kill, causing minor injuries to a police officer and a local resident in the audience, Kyodo News reported. Kimura has refused to talk to the authorities. But he may have been angry because he couldn't file for candidacy in 2022 elections, Japanese media reported. ...continue reading

Nuclear reactor in northeastern Japan restarted 13 years after 2011 disaster

The operator of a nuclear power plant in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, restarted one of its reactors on Tuesday, more than 13 years after it suffered damage in the 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster. (NHK)

Japan's ruling and opposition parties engage in tug-of-war for Diet majority

Political parties in Japan are jockeying to form a majority in the Diet following an election that dealt a severe blow to the ruling coalition. A vote to name the prime minister is due to take place in the legislature in a few weeks.

Election Staff in Mini-Skirt Raises Questions

A woman in a neon-colored jacket and mini-skirt was seen supporting a candidate in Japan's latest Lower House election, sparking public debate on extremely short skirts, shorts, and other revealing outfits worn by female campaign staff.

Japanese Voter Turnout Drops to Third Lowest Post-War Level

Voter turnout for Japan's lower house election on Sunday stood at 53.85%, marking the third lowest rate since the end of World War II, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Calls for Accountability Grow Among LDP Leadership

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has fallen short of its majority target, and voices questioning the accountability of the party’s leadership, including Prime Minister Ishiba, are growing.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Politics NEWS

Japan's 'My Number' ID cards to serve as driver's licenses from March

People in Japan will be able to use "My Number" national identification cards as driver's licenses from next March. (NHK)

Japanese Voter Turnout Drops to Third Lowest Post-War Level

Voter turnout for Japan's lower house election on Sunday stood at 53.85%, marking the third lowest rate since the end of World War II, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Calls for Accountability Grow Among LDP Leadership

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has fallen short of its majority target, and voices questioning the accountability of the party’s leadership, including Prime Minister Ishiba, are growing.

Japan's Ruling Coalition to Lose Majority

Japan's ruling coalition appears set to lose its majority in the House of Representatives election, marking the first time since 2009 that the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Komeito have failed to secure over half the seats.

Pressure Mounts on Ishiba

Reports from within the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) suggest rising dissatisfaction following a setback in the election where the ruling party failed to secure a majority.

Last Day of Election Campaign: Party Leaders Make Their Final Appeal

With the House of Representatives election set for October 27th, party leaders spent the final day of the campaign rallying support until the last minute at 8 p.m.

Voters cast ballots for Lower House election

Voters across Japan are having their say. They're deciding which lawmakers will fill the Diet's powerful Lower House. All polling stations are set to close later tonight, by 8 PM. (NHK)

Three-Way Fight Heats Up as Election Day Approaches in Osaka

Osaka Prefecture’s 16th Ward is shaping up to be a battleground in the upcoming general election, as three major political parties -- Japan Innovation Party (Ishin), Komeito, and the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) -- engage in a fierce contest.

< 2 3 4 5 >