- Liberal Democratic Party
- What the TPP Process Means to JapanYoshizaki Tatsuhiko
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The Japanese government's decision to take part in talks over a Trans-Pacific Partnership has reignited internal debate over the potential pluses and minuses of a US-led free trade agreement. Economist Yoshizaki Tatsuhiko argues that the discussion will remain fruitless until both sides shift their focus from such hypothetical losses and gains to the fundamental importance of promoting free trade and participating in the rule-making process.
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- What Type of Decentralization Best Suits Japan?Sasaki Nobuo
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There is a consensus that Japan will need to thoroughly reform its overly centralized system of government if it hopes to reduce its massive deficits. Sasaki Nobuo, a professor at Chūō University and advocate of a new system of regional blocks, describes several paths Japan could take toward decentralization.
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- Japan-US Relations: The Need for Commitment and Restraint
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Abe Shinzō’s new administration has made a promising start in its dealings with the United States, including an inaugural summit with President Barack Obama that laid the groundwork for Japan’s participation in negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement. The bilateral relationship faces numerous issues, though, whose outcome remains to be seen. We asked former ambassador to the United States Fujisaki Ichirō to share his thoughts.
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- Decentralization: Who Is It For?Takenaka Harukata
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Decentralization of power has been on Japan’s agenda for 20 years, but how much real progress has been achieved? We interviewed Katayama Yoshihiro, who won high marks for his performance as governor of Tottori Prefecture (1999–2007) and who promoted decentralization as a member of Kan Naoto’s cabinet (2010–11).
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- Abe’s Agenda on Three FrontsKitaoka Shin’ichi
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In order to deal with the difficult issues Japan faces domestically and internationally, Prime Minister Abe Shinzō will need to display leadership and promote realistic policies without getting tied up in ideology.
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- The Letdown of Abe’s Timid Policy SpeechSugiura Masaaki
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“What is this?” I found myself muttering to myself incredulously as I listened to Prime Minister Abe Shinzō deliver his general policy speech to the National Diet on January 28. It was not so much a general policy speech as a declaration of timidity. He used the word kiki (“crisis,” “critical”) a full 14 times, which was fine, but he did not utter so much as a single syllable about the Senkaku Isl…
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- Consumption Tax Bill Repercussions Have Just BegunGotō Kenji
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As we all know, the last phase of deliberations over the consumption tax bill took place on August 8, at a meeting between Prime Minister Noda Yoshihiko of the Democratic Party of Japan and Tanigaki Sadakazu, leader of the opposition Liberal Democratic Party.(*1) It was then that Noda promised Tanigaki that he would dissolve the lower house and call a general election “soon,” persuading Tanigaki t…
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- Noda’s Policy MuddlesShiraishi Takashi
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On September 26 Prime Minister Noda Yoshihiko delivered an address to the United Nations General Assembly in which he called for use of the International Court of Justice for the settlement of territorial and maritime disputes. With the conflicts between Japan and China over the Senkaku Islands and between Japan and South Korea over Takeshima in mind, the prime minister declared that it is unaccep…
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- JAL’s Bumpy Ride: From Bankruptcy to RelistingTozaki Hajime
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In September 2012 Japan Airlines was relisted on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, two years after claiming support under the Corporate Reorganization Law. Waseda University Professor Tozaki Hajime, an expert on the aviation industry, looks back on the restructuring process and assesses the prospects for the future.
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- The Stirrings of Political RealignmentMasuzoe Yōichi
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The faction led by Ozawa Ichirō has quit the Democratic Party of Japan in opposition the consumption tax hike proposed by the government of Prime Minister Noda Yoshihiko. The Ozawa faction set up their own party on July 11, 2012, named the People’s Life First Party. This was followed by further defections among DPJ Diet members, pushing the party into danger of collapse. Even though Ozawa person…
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