With just days left until Sunday’s Upper House election, the fate of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and his Liberal Democratic Party is uncertain as polls suggest the ruling camp may lose its majority. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/16/japan/politics/final-phase-election-polls/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #shigeruishiba #ldp #komeito #dpp #nipponishinnokai #2025upperhouseelection

U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed frustration with Japan over trade, saying that his "reciprocal" tariff rate of 25%, mentioned in a letter sent to Tokyo, might simply be allowed to go into effect on Aug. 1. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/07/16/economy/trump-japan-tariffs/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #economy #tariffs #donaldtrump #us #usjapanrelations #trade #globaleconomy #japaneseeconomy #shigeruishiba #ryoseiakazawa

Japan has set up an administrative body aimed at easing citizens' concerns over the rapid rise in the number of foreign nationals living in the country, with the issue emerging as a key one in Sunday's election. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/15/japan/politics/foreigner-concerns-administrative-body/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #depopulation #expats #tourism #shigeruishiba #2025upperhouseelection

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is considering holding a meeting with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who is set to visit the 2025 Osaka Expo this week, government sources have said. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/15/japan/politics/ishiba-bessent-osaka/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #scottbessent #shigeruishiba #osaka #2025osakaexpo #us #trade #tariffs #usjapanrelations

U.S. President Donald Trump again criticized Japan over ongoing tariff negotiations on Sunday, but said it is "changing" its way "very rapidly" in the talks with the United States. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/07/14/economy/trump-tariff-japan-changing/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #economy #donaldtrump #tariffs #shigeruishiba #trade #us #japaneseeconomy #usjapanrelations

As campaigning for the Upper House election moves into its final week, one poll shows that the ruling coalition could lose its majority in the chamber, which could lead to Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's resignation https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/14/japan/politics/upper-house-election-poll/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #2025upperhouseelection #ldp #shigeruishiba #cdp #komeito #dpp #sanseito #nipponishin

The Bank of Japan could face political pressure to keep interest rates low as opposition parties favoring tax cuts and loose monetary policy are expected to gain influence after the July 20 Upper House election. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/07/14/economy/boj-rate-hike-upper-house-election/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #economy #boj #2025upperhouseelection #shigeruishiba #ldp #consumptiontax #japaneseeconomy #inflation

From Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba being ousted to a snap election for the Lower House, here are some of the most likely outcomes of the July 20 Upper House election. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/11/japan/politics/post-election-scenarios/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #2025upperhouseelection #diet #shigeruishiba #ldp #cdp #dpp #nipponishinnokai #naotokan

Major Japanese political parties are calling for boosting the country's defense capabilities in their campaigns for the July 20 House of Councilors election, but their views are mixed on increased defense spending. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/10/japan/politics/japanese-parties-election-defense-spending/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #2025upperhouseelection #defense #shigeruishiba #ldp #dpp

Amid ongoing tariff talks, U.S. leader Donald Trump is again demanding Asian allies spend more on stationing American troops and for their own security — a sign that he is continuing to link trade with defense issues. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/09/japan/politics/us-japan-south-korea-tariffs-defense/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #usjapanrelations #donaldtrump #defense #budgets #trade #tariffs #china #usmilitary#leejaemyung #shigeruishiba #southkorea

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba expressed his appreciation to outgoing South Korean Ambassador to Japan Park Cheol-hee for his contributions to improving relations between Japan and South Korea. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/08/japan/politics/ishiba-south-korea-gratitude/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #shigeruishiba #southkorea #southkoreajapanrelations

Japan will set up an organization at the Cabinet Secretariat next week that will serve as the "control tower" to coordinate government efforts to deal with crimes by foreign residents. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/08/japan/politics/japan-foreign-resident-crime-control/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics#yoshimasahayashi #shigeruishiba #cabinet

Japan is standing its ground after a letter from U.S. President Donald Trump delivered to it a 25% tariff shock, signaling that its stance in negotiations is largely unchanged. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/07/08/economy/japan-stands-ground-us-tariff/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #economy #us #usjapanrelations #donaldtrump #tariffs #trade #globaleconomy #japaneseeconomy #shigeruishiba #ryoseiakazawa