Farm minister Shinjiro Koizumi’s aggressive tactics to lower the price of rice has left many farming communities feeling frustrated and abandoned — and that discontent may be reflected in Sunday’s vote. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/17/japan/politics/yamagata-election/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #shinjirokoizumi #yamagata #ldp #sanseito #cdp #dpp #jcp #2025upperhouseelection #rice #agriculture

Rising political party Sanseito is the third-most popular pick among voters ahead of Sunday's election for the Upper House, a Jiji Press opinion poll for July showed Thursday. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/17/japan/politics/japan-opposition-sanseito-support-up/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #surveys #2025upperhouseelection #sanseito #ldp #dpp

Only 8% of voters surveyed by NHK rated Trump tariffs as their top priority ahead of a key national election in Japan. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/07/17/economy/japan-voters-tariffs/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #economy #shigeruishiba #ldp #komeito #2025upperhouseelection #tariffs #donaldtrump #us #usjapanrelations #trade

The leader of Japan’s largest opposition party has criticized the concept of “Japanese First” policy — advocated by small, right-wing party Sanseito — saying foreign residents are critical to maintaining Japan’s economy. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/17/japan/politics/cdp-noda-foreigners/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #yoshihikonoda #cdp #sanseito #foreignworkers #expats #2025upperhouseelection

Highlight videos are playing a major role in the upcoming Upper House election, with social media increasingly impacting election results amid the growing popularity of YouTube and other video-sharing sites. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/17/japan/politics/highlight-videos-election/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #2025upperhouseelection #socialmedia #youtube #shinjiishimaru

Komeito says it will ease living costs, build a resilient economy, reject xenophobia, guard Japan from Trump’s tariffs and promote peace and constitutional principles. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/07/17/japan/komeito-2025-upper-house-election/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #japan #tetsuosaito #komeito #ldp #2025upperhouseelection

Female candidates in the Upper House election face many forms of harassment from voters and supporters — from stalking and death threats to uncomfortably long handshakes and hugs. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/17/japan/politics/female-candidates-harassment/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #2025upperhouseelection #mayuushida #dpp #shioriyamao #saya #women039sissues

With its policies of focusing on helping Japan's working generations, many younger voters are turning to the Democratic Party for the People as an alternative to the traditionalist Liberal Democratic Party. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/17/japan/politics/upper-house-election-tokyo-district/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #tokyo #yuichirotamaki #kazuyashimba #dpp #sanseito #ldp #2025upperhouseelection #cdp #jcp #komeito

Nippon Ishin no Kai urges voters to back its pledge to deliver real reforms and results, unlike other opposition parties, as Japan faces a chance for change in the upcoming Upper House election. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/07/16/japan/nippon-ishin-no/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #japan#hirofumiyoshimura #nipponishinnokai #2025upperhouseelection

The Constitutional Democratic Party says it has successfully raised basic pension benefits and it hears voters when they say rising prices are their biggest concern. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/07/16/japan/the-constitutional-democratic-party/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #japan #cdp #2025upperhouseelection #yoshihikonoda

The Japanese Communist Party calls on voters to end the LDP’s business-centered politics and dependence on the U.S. by backing its push for social, economic and foreign-policy reforms. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/07/16/japan/japan-communist-party/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #japan #tomokotamura #thejapancommunistparty #2025upperhouseelection

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

While many candidates in Sunday's Upper House election are heading to major cities for speeches and turning to social media, one candidate from Hokkaido is giving politics one last go-through a grassroots campaign. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/16/japan/politics/muneo-suzuki-election-hokkaido/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #muneosuzuki #hokkaido #ldp #nipponishinnokai #2025upperhouseelection #okinawa #russia

Only two months into his role as agriculture minister, Shinjiro Koizumi has become the face of a risky political bet by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/16/japan/politics/koizumi-election-focus/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #shinjirokoizumi #ldp #2025upperhouseelection #rice #agriculture

Japanese voters will head to the polls focused mainly on rising prices and social security, with money scandals unlikely to sway the outcome despite their media prominence. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/07/15/world/demystifying-seiji-to-kane-scandals/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #worldnews #ldp #corruption #bribes#fumiokishida#ichiroozawa #shigeruishiba #2025upperhouseelection

A spike in approval for a minor party is alarming some ahead of elections. But the nation lacks the kindling for a populist fire. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/07/15/japan/japans-rightwing-fringe-no-maga/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #japan #sanseito #immigration #2025upperhouseelection #ldp

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

Discussions among political parties in Japan, which heavily relies on importing fossil fuels, on securing a stable energy supply have been slow in the lead-up to Sunday's election for the Upper House despite the risks. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/15/japan/politics/energy-security-election/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #dpp #2025upperhouseelection #straitofhormuz #ldp #cdp #iran #nuclearenergy #energy #jcp

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

Yen traders revamp option bets ahead of Japan election https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/14/japan/japan-yen-traders-election/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #yen #dollar #forex #2025upperhouseelection #shigeruishiba #donaldtrump #tariffs