Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi used her New Year's message Thursday to pledge to press ahead with necessary reforms, without fear of change. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/01/japan/politics/takaichi-new-year-message/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #sanaetakaichi #ldp
Since taking office, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi seems to have enjoyed a tailwind. Yet amid a cost-of-living crisis, perilous coalition ties and weak party support, there’s no shortage of challenges. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/01/japan/politics/political-outlook-2026/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #sanaetakaichi #ldp #nipponishinnokai #komeito #taroaso #diet
High public approval ratings for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi have led to little open criticism of the Liberal Democratic Party chief from members of her own party. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/31/japan/politics/anti-takaichi-low-key/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #sanaetakaichi #ldp #shigeruishiba #fumiokishida #hiroshimoriyama
Fresh from its divorce from the Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito faces an urgent need to redefine its identity and set itself apart from its competitors. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/29/japan/politics/komeito-post-ldp-prospects/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #komeito #tetsuosaito #diet #ldp #cdp
A Japanese group remains resolved to seek state relief for civilians who sustained injuries and other damage from U.S. air raids during World War II. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/28/japan/japan-wwii-air-raid-damage-relief-demand/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #wwii #tokyoairraids #ldp #sanaetakaichi #katsueihirasawa #setagaya
While the government's fiscal 2026 budget bill calls for record-high spending on social security, its efforts to reduce the health insurance premium burden on the working generation are still limited. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/27/japan/society/burden-working-generation/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #society #health #sanaetakaichi #ldp #nipponishinnokai #budgets #debt #elderly #medicine
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the nation’s primary balance is set to return to a surplus for the first time in 28 years, in an apparent attempt to ease market concerns over her proactive stance on spending. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/12/27/economy/primary-balance-surplus/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #economy #sanaetakaichi #ldp #budgets #debt #japaneseeconomy
The Liberal Democratic Party’s recent tax agreement with an opposition party raises questions about how Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will balance ties with her party’s coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/25/japan/politics/dpp-ldp-jip-coalition/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #ldp #dpp #jip #sanaetakaichi #yuichirotamaki #hirofumiyoshimura
Policymakers are failing to help foreign residents in Japan integrate by emphasizing order over harmony, says Toshihiro Menju, a visiting professor at Kansai University of International Studies. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/25/japan/society/menju-interview/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #society #expats #foreignworkers #immigration #ldp
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s headquarters on foreign national policy has compiled an interim draft of recommendations to submit to the government in January. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/24/japan/politics/foreign-national-measures-ldp-meeting/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #immigration #expats #foreignworkers #ldp
Japan's government and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party plan to postpone formulating the sixth basic program for promoting gender equality, initially scheduled to be compiled by the end of the year, sources said. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/24/japan/politics/new-gender-program-delayed/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #marriage #names #ldp #sanaetakaichi #familylaw #women039sissues
A wave of visits to Taiwan by Japanese lawmakers is underway, underscoring the close ties between Tokyo and Taipei and drawing a sharp response from Beijing. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/24/japan/politics/japan-lawmakers-visit-taiwan-china-anger/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #koichihagiuda #china #taiwan #chinajapanrelations #taiwanjapanrelations #sanaetakaichi #laichingte #ldp
Koichi Hagiuda, deputy secretary-general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, and Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te on Monday agreed to strengthen Japan-Taiwan relations. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/23/japan/politics/japan-ldp-exec-taiwan-president-meet/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #koichihagiuda #laichingte #taiwanjapanrelations #ldp #chinajapanrelations
Lawmakers of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party continue to visit Taiwan despite the current tensions between Japan and China. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/22/japan/politics/japan-ldp-lawmakers-taiwan-visit/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #taiwanjapanrelations #chinajapanrelations #ldp #koichihagiuda #sanaetakaichi
A possible reduction of the number of seats in Japan’s Lower House is unlikely to be implemented in time for the next election, a ruling party official has indicated. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/22/japan/politics/lower-house-seat-cut-unlikely-for-next-election/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #lowerhouse #ldp #keijifuruya #diet
Okinawa development funds to see first rise in 10 years https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/18/japan/japan-okinawa-development-funds/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #ldp #okinawa #budgets #yukoobuchi
Japan has long had some of the world’s strictest restrictions on arms exports. But things are set to change radically — as early as next spring — amid an increasingly fraught regional security environment. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/17/japan/politics/japan-arms-exports-analysis/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #ldp #nipponishin #sdf #defense #diet #defenseministry #nationalsecuritycouncil #trade #china #gcap #usmilitary #us #sanaetakaichi
Japan's Foreign Ministry will set up by the end of March next year a new office tasked with mediating peace between third countries, sources said. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/17/japan/politics/foreign-ministry-peace-office/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #foreignministry #gaza #ldp #jip
With parliament set to close on Wednesday, the ruling coalition agreed this week to hold off discussions on a bill reducing Lower House seats by 10% until next year. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/16/japan/politics/ldp-jip-bill-put-off/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #nipponishinnokai #ldp #hirofumiyoshimura #dpp #cdp #komeito #diet #lowerhouse
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, have decided to reconsider the route of the planned Hokuriku Shinkansen section. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/16/japan/hokuriku-shinkansen-route-change/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #mlit #hokurikushinkansen #bullettrains #rail #fukui #osaka #kyoto #ldp #nipponishinnokai #environment