Japan dissolves lower house ahead of election

Ruling LDP party loses upper house seat in setback for PM Kishida
CNA - Oct 26
Japan's prime minister has suffered a setback just days before going to the polls. Fumio Kishida's ruling LDP party has lost one of two parliamentary by-elections.

LDP loses one of two Upper House by-elections
NHK - Oct 25
Japan's main ruling Liberal Democratic Party has lost one of two Upper House by-elections. But it won the other and will retain that seat.

Japan parliamentary race hits record low for candidates under 40
Nikkei - Oct 20
Candidates in their 20s and 30s make up 9.4% and women less than 20% of those running in Japan's lower house election on Oct. 31, highlighting the country's continued struggles with incorporating new and more diverse viewpoints into its politics.

Lack of vaccination passport, testing threaten Japan's reopening
Reuters - Oct 20
Japan’s lack of a vaccination passport and limited testing capacity is threatening ambitions to reopen the economy at a crucial year-end period when restaurants earn up to a half of their annual revenue and travel agencies are at their busiest.

North Korea fires ballistic missile off coast of Japan
itv.com - Oct 19
North Korea launched a ballistic missile into the sea of the coast of Japan on Tuesday, the South Korean and Japanese militaries said.

Political parties in Japan clash over ways to revitalise economy ahead of elections
CNA - Oct 19
There has been a contest of words in Japan as the country gears up for a general election. Political parties have gone on the offensive in a televised debate a day before campaigning officially kicks off.

Japan’s carbon goal is based on restarting 30 nuclear reactors
jwnenergy.com - Oct 19
Japan’s goal of reducing carbon emissions by 46 per cent by 2030 is based on the assumption it will restart 30 of its nuclear reactors, a top ruling party executive said.

Celebrities in Japan launch vote campaign amid public apathy towards Oct 31 election
straitstimes.com - Oct 18
Japanese celebrities are appealing to the young to vote in the general election on Oct 31, amid apathy towards a government branded as out of touch on bread-and-butter issues.

Kishida sends ritual offering to Yasukuni Shrine
NHK - Oct 17
Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has sent a ritual offering to Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo to mark the start of its autumn festival on Sunday.

This is the Japanese Navy's New Advanced Diesel-Electric Stealth Submarine
HBB Defense Military - Oct 17
Japan launched the second Taigei-class attack submarine today. The advanced diesel-electric Hakugei (SS-514) will be commissioned by the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) in early 2023.

Japan dissolves lower house ahead of election
WION - Oct 14
Japan has dissolved its parliament, this sets the stage for the general election at the end of the month. This will pit the newly elected prime minister Fumio Kishida against the unpopular opposition.

Japan to set up $4.4 billion 'vaccine fund' under economic package
Japan Times - Oct 14
Japan plans to set up a Y500 billion ($4.4 billion) fund aimed at supporting firms developing vaccines for infectious diseases and new drugs, under the first economic package to be drawn up since Prime Minister Fumio Kishida took office last week, government sources said Wednesday.

PM Kishida says Japan to start 3rd COVID vaccine shots in December
Kyodo - Oct 12
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Tuesday the government is planning to start administering third doses of COVID-19 vaccine in Japan in December and that it will shoulder the costs.

Japan's new PM Kishida questioned over scandals related to predecessors in parliament
CNA - Oct 12
Past political scandals are haunting Japan's new prime minister Fumio Kishida. Facing parliament for the first time, he was bombarded by questions from the opposition.

Taiwan issue should be handled "appropriately", China's Xi tells Japan's Kishida
CNA - Oct 09
China has told Japan that they should handle sensitive issues such as Taiwan "appropriately". President Xi Jinping made the remarks during his first phone call with Japan's new Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

Tomoko Yoshino becomes first female chief of Japan's largest labor body
Japan Times - Oct 07
Tomoko Yoshino on Wednesday became the first female chief of Rengo, Japan’s largest labor organization, after her promotion from vice president was approved at a regular convention.