Yoshihiko Noda

Markets cheer Japan conservatives’ return to power

17 Dec 2012

Investors on Monday cheered after Japan’s conservatives swept back to power in national elections, with promises of a fix for the economy and tougher diplomacy in a territorial spat with China.

11:47AM

Japan votes in poll likely to eject ruling party

16 Dec 2012

Voters in Japan went to the polls on Sunday in an election likely to return conservatives to power at a time of growing tension with China and as the nation seeks to arrest economic decline.

4:45PM

Japanese voters set to restore LDP to power

16 Dec 2012

It appears a foregone conclusion that the Liberal Democratic Party will sweep back into power with ease in today's general election.

4:42AM

Outgoing Yoshihiko Noda a victim of events beyond his control

12 Dec 2012

It is difficult not to feel a degree of sympathy for Yoshihiko Noda, who will be unceremoniously removed as Japan's prime minister in Sunday's general election, if the opinion polls are to be...

2:20AM

Who said it?

12 Dec 2012

There is a big eruption of discontent … towards our chief executive because he is a cheat

Campaigner Jackie Hung Ling-yu on a protest march against Leung Chun-ying

2:41AM

Japan LDP and partner on track for big election win

11 Dec 2012

Hawkish former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its smaller ally are on track for a resounding victory in Sunday’s election, winning more than 300 seats in...

11:35AM

Opinion

Howard Winn

Ferry companies shouldn't be subsidised while they burn dirty fuel

2:53AM

Shirley Yam

What were our top officials doing to let HKMEx fail?

3:37AM

Japan on alert as window opens for North Korean rocket launch

Japan said on Monday it was on full alert over North Korea’s planned rocket launch as a 13-day lift-off window opened, despite moves from Pyongyang that could delay the move.

2:50PM

Despite flaws, democracy is here to stay

Japan's post-war democracy has often been termed phoney, a charge arising from the long-maintained single-party rule by the Liberal Democratic Party.

1:59AM

Business Digest, December 1, 2012

Euro-zone joblessness hits record 11.7pc

3:07AM

JAPAN

Japan suspends dubious reconstruction projects

Japan’s government has suspended 35 projects included in a budget for reconstruction from the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami after criticism the spending was not directly related to recovery...

5:04PM

CRIME

Hostages freed from Japan bank after police find captor sleeping

Japanese police rescued four hostages from a bank yesterday and arrested the knife-wielding man who had held them captive for more than 12 hours while demanding the prime minister resign,...

3:11AM

DIPLOMACY

South Korea warns of Japan’s shift to the right

South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-Hwan warned on Thursday of signs of a rightward shift in Japanese politics, including an increasingly aggressive stance on territorial issues.

3:24PM