https://www.scmp.com/rss/522285/feed The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is a prominent conservative political party in Japan, headquartered in Tokyo. Formed in 1955, it has largely dominated Japanese politics, playing a significant role in the nation’s governance and overseeing its post-war economic recovery and development. The LDP’s primary mission includes fostering a pro-business environment, advocating low taxes, supporting Japanese industry, and maintaining a strong alliance with the United States. It also aims to revise... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Bloomberg,Agence France-Presse Bloomberg,Agence France-Presse A video showing Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi looking visibly exhausted after a budget committee session on Thursday went viral online, sparking concerns over her well-being ahead of a trip to the US to meet President Donald Trump. Takaichi had cold-like symptoms and was advised to rest by doctors, ultimately skipping some meetings with local Middle Eastern ambassadors on Thursday, according to local media. “Yesterday, the prime minister suspected she had a cold, so she was examined by... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3346437/japan-video-exhausted-takaichi-sparks-health-fears-ahead-us-trip?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3346437/japan-video-exhausted-takaichi-sparks-health-fears-ahead-us-trip?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 03:26:41 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi was under pressure on Wednesday after it emerged she gave congratulatory gift catalogues to lawmakers from her ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) following its landslide election victory this month. Each of her party’s 315 MPs was given the option to choose an item from the catalogue “as an expression of appreciation for their success at this very tough election”, Takaichi wrote in a social media post, saying that no taxpayer money was used. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3344556/japans-takaichi-faces-backlash-over-us190-victory-gifts-ruling-party-lawmakers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3344556/japans-takaichi-faces-backlash-over-us190-victory-gifts-ruling-party-lawmakers?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Feb 2026 05:40:50 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall When Sanae Takaichi strode into her first press conference as Japan’s reappointed prime minister on Wednesday, she delivered a clear message to the economists and editorial boards warning her away from her signature tax pledge. Food consumption tax is going to be scrapped, and nothing is going to stop her. Formally confirmed in office after the Diet voted to reappoint her – following a landslide victory in the House of Representatives election on February 8 – Takaichi reiterated her commitment... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3344015/japans-takaichi-pushes-scrap-food-tax-ignoring-economists-warnings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3344015/japans-takaichi-pushes-scrap-food-tax-ignoring-economists-warnings?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 01:30:18 +0000 Nicholas Spiro Nicholas Spiro For many decades, Australia was known as the “lucky country”. Its long period of uninterrupted growth stretching back to the 1990s was a rarity among advanced economies. Yet even before the Covid-19 pandemic erupted, Australia’s luck was running out amid stagnant productivity, a housing affordability crisis and the slowdown in China’s economy. Another developed country that has had luck on its side is Japan. Having endured more than three “lost decades” in a prolonged struggle against deflation,... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3343260/japan-will-soon-learn-how-far-takaichi-can-ride-her-luck?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3343260/japan-will-soon-learn-how-far-takaichi-can-ride-her-luck?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 08:30:07 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Japan’s fledgling opposition alliance is scrambling to regroup after a bruising election defeat that has left its future in doubt, raising broader questions about whether the country can sustain a credible parliamentary counterweight to the long-dominant Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). The Centrist Reform Alliance (CRA) is set to elect a new leader on Friday, just days after voters delivered a resounding blow in Sunday’s House of Representatives poll, prompting the resignation of its joint... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3343191/japans-new-opposition-alliance-already-dead-water?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3343191/japans-new-opposition-alliance-already-dead-water?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 00:00:13 +0000 Zhihua Zheng Zhihua Zheng Japan’s House of Representatives election on February 8 delivered more than a decisive result. It produced a domestic political configuration with direct and lasting consequences for Sino-Japanese relations. The scale of the Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) victory under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has altered both Tokyo’s internal balance of power and the incentives shaping Japan’s strategic posture towards China. The LDP secured 316 seats in the election, surpassing the two-thirds threshold... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3343001/how-takaichis-landslide-victory-will-reshape-china-japan-security?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3343001/how-takaichis-landslide-victory-will-reshape-china-japan-security?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Feb 2026 21:30:08 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow Japan’s ruling coalition secured a commanding victory in Sunday’s general election, but analysts warn that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s embrace of a hardline conservative agenda could narrow her party’s support base and ultimately weaken its dominance over time. The Liberal Democratic Party-led coalition captured 352 of the 465 seats in the House of Representatives, according to national public broadcaster NHK: well above the two-thirds supermajority required to override upper house... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3342931/japans-takaichi-won-election-what-cost-ldp?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3342931/japans-takaichi-won-election-what-cost-ldp?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Feb 2026 09:38:04 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi won a landslide election victory, and the nation’s first single-party supermajority since World War II, after a campaign centred on cutting taxes and boosting defence spending amid a dispute with China. Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) was on track to win 316 seats in the 465-seat lower house of parliament, according to public broadcaster NHK, clearing the two-thirds threshold needed to override the upper chamber. The Japan Innovation Party, an LDP... https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/article/3342919/takaichi-wins-election-landslide-amid-china-dispute?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/article/3342919/takaichi-wins-election-landslide-amid-china-dispute?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Feb 2026 09:07:18 +0000 Kyodo Kyodo Social media-savvy young swing voters are emerging as a key demographic for political parties, and some digital platformers are trying to curb the adverse impact of disinformation and fake news on Generation Z by sharing tips ahead of Sunday’s general election. Around 20 junior high and high school students took part in a recent workshop held in Tokyo designed to help them understand the importance of knowing where information comes from and accessing primary sources, as the emergence of... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3342781/japans-teen-voters-must-improve-media-literacy-study-misinformation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3342781/japans-teen-voters-must-improve-media-literacy-study-misinformation?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Feb 2026 13:15:45 +0000 Kyodo Kyodo Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has come under fire for deciding to hold Sunday’s general election during the peak university entrance exam season, with critics saying it has placed an additional burden on students. Takaichi’s abrupt announcement last month to dissolve the House of Representatives has also been questioned, as it will be the first time since 1990 that a lower house election is taking place in February, when some regions experience heavy snowfall. The prime minister has... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3342441/japans-extremely-unreasonable-election-timing-threatens-keep-young-voters-away?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3342441/japans-extremely-unreasonable-election-timing-threatens-keep-young-voters-away?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Feb 2026 02:13:28 +0000 Reuters Reuters The handbag she carries is sold out, her pink pen has gone viral and even her favourite snacks are in hot demand: Japan’s 64-year-old leader Sanae Takaichi has sparked an unlikely youth-led craze that could propel her to a big election win. Polls suggest sanakatsu, roughly translated as “sanamania”, can help give Japan’s first female prime minister a decisive mandate in Sunday’s general election and unleash the spending plans she has promised will jolt the country’s moribund economy. Backed by... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3342349/youth-support-puts-japans-sanae-takaichi-track-landslide?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3342349/youth-support-puts-japans-sanae-takaichi-track-landslide?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Feb 2026 07:31:55 +0000 Kyodo Kyodo Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, has extended its lead from last week in a new poll on the race ahead of the February 8 election, with 36.1 per cent backing the party, up 6.9 percentage points, the survey showed on Sunday. The Centrist Reform Alliance, a new major opposition force, was second with 13.9 per cent, up 2.0 points. At the single-constituency level, the survey conducted over two days from Saturday showed that 44.0 per cent would vote for... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3342018/japans-takaichi-seeks-mandate-improved-majority-snap-election-poll?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3342018/japans-takaichi-seeks-mandate-improved-majority-snap-election-poll?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Feb 2026 14:33:11 +0000 Anthony Rowley Anthony Rowley Compared with the turmoil threatened by US President Donald Trump’s actions in everything from geopolitics to trade, the outcome of Japan’s parliamentary lower house election, set for February 8, may seem like small beer. Yet it could presage a great upheaval in global finance. The election outcome is widely expected to strengthen the political power base of the fiscally expansionist Japanese prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, and increase borrowing when government debt almost everywhere is already... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3341741/how-one-election-japan-could-upend-bond-markets-and-global-finance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3341741/how-one-election-japan-could-upend-bond-markets-and-global-finance?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 Jan 2026 08:30:07 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang A sudden spike in volatility in Japanese government bonds (JGBs) – long seen as among the world’s safest assets – is stoking concern that risk aversion is rippling through Asian markets across asset classes, according to analysts. Investors have repriced the term and risk premiums on JGBs as fiscal worries that started simmering last year have flared again after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi pledged tax cuts and higher spending. The 40-year bond yield rose above 4 per cent on Tuesday, the... https://www.scmp.com/business/commodities/article/3340667/japan-bond-volatility-raises-contagion-alarm-asias-stocks-and-debt?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/commodities/article/3340667/japan-bond-volatility-raises-contagion-alarm-asias-stocks-and-debt?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Jan 2026 07:11:50 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow Japan is entering one of its most unpredictable election cycles in decades after the surprise formation of a new centrist political alliance that could redefine the balance of power and potentially restore a two-party system to the country’s long-stagnant political landscape. On Thursday, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) and Komeito, once a loyal coalition partner of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, announced they would merge into a new force called the Centrist Reform... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3340538/japans-1-party-era-faces-unprecedented-threat-new-centrist-alliance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3340538/japans-1-party-era-faces-unprecedented-threat-new-centrist-alliance?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Jan 2026 00:00:14 +0000 Maria Siow,Kyodo Maria Siow,Kyodo Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has staked her political survival on a high-risk snap general election, wagering that her personal approval ratings can overcome the legacy of her scandal-plagued party. Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Takaichi confirmed she would dissolve the House of Representatives on Friday – the opening day of the parliamentary session – paving the way for a nationwide vote on February 8. “I will put my post on the line and seek the voters’ judgment on... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3340435/japans-first-female-pm-takaichi-calls-snap-election-february-8?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3340435/japans-first-female-pm-takaichi-calls-snap-election-february-8?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 Jan 2026 09:44:14 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall In Japan, “foreigner policy” has entered mainstream consciousness, with a politically middle-of-the-road newspaper concluding that xenophobia dominated the country’s “national conversation” last year. In a December 29 review of the year, the Mainichi reported that policies and attitudes towards foreign nationals “leapt to the forefront of Japanese politics and onto front pages”, propelled in part by the “xenophobic policies and rhetoric of the right-wing Sanseito party” in the July general... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3340260/japans-year-outsider-how-anti-foreigner-sentiment-went-mainstream?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3340260/japans-year-outsider-how-anti-foreigner-sentiment-went-mainstream?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 Jan 2026 03:00:12 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s bid to strengthen her slim parliamentary majority through a widely expected snap election has grown riskier after the country’s largest opposition party struck an alliance with a former ruling coalition partner. The new alliance between the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) and Komeito, announced on Thursday, complicates Takaichi’s bet that she will be able to significantly build on her razor-thin majority in the lower house of... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3339879/japans-takaichi-faces-uphill-task-lower-house-election-after-allys-exit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3339879/japans-takaichi-faces-uphill-task-lower-house-election-after-allys-exit?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jan 2026 00:00:13 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, riding high in opinion polls, is expected to call a general election in the coming months to capitalise on her popularity and seize the opportunity to rebuild a Liberal Democratic Party-led government. Takaichi has done little to play down the possibility, telling a news conference on Monday: “It is important that the public can feel the tangible effects of our measures against rising prices and our economic policies. We are working hard to tackle the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3339211/japans-takaichi-tipped-snap-election-gamble-poll-ratings-soar?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3339211/japans-takaichi-tipped-snap-election-gamble-poll-ratings-soar?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Jan 2026 00:00:12 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall The Japanese government’s plans to tighten espionage and secrecy legislation have been welcomed as a necessary bulwark at a time of deepening national security concerns, although analysts fear that any revisions will be too broad and could be used to stifle free speech and media freedom. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, a long-time proponent of tightening rules on espionage and secrecy, was already formulating policies before she took office in October. On November 26, Takaichi told a Diet session... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3336322/japans-proposal-speedily-draft-anti-spy-laws-raises-human-rights-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3336322/japans-proposal-speedily-draft-anti-spy-laws-raises-human-rights-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Dec 2025 01:30:17 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi defended her 21.3 trillion yen (US$136.5 billion) stimulus package in parliament on Wednesday, telling opposition politicians the debt-fuelled plan was “necessary” amid concerns over the yen’s slide and Japan’s worsening financial health. Takaichi’s cabinet signed off on the 21.3 trillion yen (US$136.5 billion) package on Friday, including 17.7 trillion yen in fresh spending – the largest stimulus since the pandemic and her first major economic gambit since... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3334194/japans-populist-debt-fuelled-spending-plan-alarms-economists?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3334194/japans-populist-debt-fuelled-spending-plan-alarms-economists?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Nov 2025 07:00:21 +0000 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang Japan’s export of lethal weapons sent an “extremely dangerous signal” indicating expanded military capabilities, Chinese observers and media said on Thursday as relations between the two countries continued to nosedive. The assessment followed Japanese media reports on Wednesday that Japan had exported domestically produced Patriot surface-to-air missile interceptors to the United States. The US would use the missiles to replenish its own stockpile as it provided military support to Ukraine in... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3333583/japans-export-lethal-weapons-us-extremely-dangerous-chinese-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3333583/japans-export-lethal-weapons-us-extremely-dangerous-chinese-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Nov 2025 04:00:09 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Sanae Takaichi has made a strong debut as Japan’s first female prime minister, with early polls showing widespread public confidence in her leadership – despite her decision to appoint several politicians who have been embroiled in scandal. A Yomiuri Shimbun survey released this week found 71 per cent of respondents backed her administration, climbing to 80 per cent among voters aged 18 to 39. That places Takaichi’s debut as the fifth most popular of any new government since 1978 – surpassing... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3330104/why-japans-first-female-pm-winning-hearts-even-scandal-hit-cabinet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3330104/why-japans-first-female-pm-winning-hearts-even-scandal-hit-cabinet?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Oct 2025 01:30:18 +0000 Kyodo Kyodo Taku Yamamoto, husband of Japan’s first female Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, said he hopes to support his wife as a “stealth husband”, adding, “Unlike in the West, it is better for the partner to stay out of the spotlight here.” A former fellow Liberal Democratic Party member in the House of Representatives, Yamamoto said he was initially “drawn to the contrast” between Takaichi’s tough exterior and her femininity. The couple, who married in 2004, divorced in 2017 over political differences but... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3329831/sanae-takaichis-husband-vows-stealth-support-japans-first-female-pm?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3329831/sanae-takaichis-husband-vows-stealth-support-japans-first-female-pm?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Oct 2025 11:49:42 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Japan’s centre-right opposition Innovation Party (JIP) has thrown its support behind a controversial new ruling coalition led by Sanae Takaichi, paving the way for her to be elected the country’s first female prime minister on Tuesday, despite concerns the alliance may quickly unravel. The surprise deal with the long-dominant Liberal Democratic Party, headed by Takaichi, marks a dramatic shift for the Osaka-based JIP. Instead of joining other opposition groups to challenge the LDP’s grip on... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3329676/japans-new-ruling-coalition-tipped-collapse-weirdest-alliance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3329676/japans-new-ruling-coalition-tipped-collapse-weirdest-alliance?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Oct 2025 09:00:57 +0000 Anthony Rowley Anthony Rowley Are politicians dispensable, and can elite bureaucrats run a country more efficiently? The question has become one of more than academic importance in Japan, where the political situation has degenerated into chaos as potential leaders and their parties vie for power. This is a question that has considerable economic and financial as well as political significance. Japan is a key trade, investment and security partner to other leading nations in and beyond Asia and its financial markets are... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3329239/japans-political-turmoil-will-weigh-heavily-its-economy-and-beyond?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3329239/japans-political-turmoil-will-weigh-heavily-its-economy-and-beyond?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Oct 2025 08:30:08 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow With Japan’s parliament poised to vote on who it wants to next lead the country, a resurgent opposition and the collapse of the ruling coalition have put the prospect of the nation’s first female prime minister in real doubt. On Tuesday, the leaders of Japan’s principal opposition factions agreed to convene in hopes of fielding a unified candidate for the top job, as they aim to break the Liberal Democratic Party’s 13-year grip on power. “It will be essential for us to achieve consensus on basic... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3329121/japans-ruling-party-falters-non-ldp-prime-minister-becomes-real-possibility?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3329121/japans-ruling-party-falters-non-ldp-prime-minister-becomes-real-possibility?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Oct 2025 00:00:10 +0000 Ronny P. Sasmita Ronny P. Sasmita Sanae Takaichi’s victory in Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership race marks not just the rise of the country’s first female prime minister in waiting, but also a symbolic shift in Japan’s ideological compass. Long known as a staunch conservative and nationalist, Takaichi’s ascent signals the possible end of the centrist pragmatism that characterised the Shinzo Abe and Fumio Kishida years. Her win sets Japan on a trajectory that could reshape its domestic economy, foreign policy and... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3328185/how-sanae-takaichis-rise-could-reshape-japan-and-asias-future?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3328185/how-sanae-takaichis-rise-could-reshape-japan-and-asias-future?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Oct 2025 01:30:08 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Sanae Takaichi, set to become Japan’s first female prime minister, may skip a visit to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine during the upcoming autumn festival, as she seeks to build a coalition government and damp down tensions with China. The conservative new leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has heeded advice from aides that a visit would promote strong reactions from China and South Korea, Kyodo News reported, citing sources close to her. Takaichi, 64, has previously stepped... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3328235/japans-takaichi-faces-tensions-coalition-partner-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3328235/japans-takaichi-faces-tensions-coalition-partner-china?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Oct 2025 09:05:26 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall With his days in power numbered, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba appears poised to make one final, politically risky stand by invoking the country’s wartime past, a move that could complicate the agenda of his incoming, more hardline successor. Ishiba has resisted pressure from within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and is expected to deliver a speech on Friday to mark the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II – a politically fraught subject that has stirred... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3328144/japans-outgoing-pm-eyes-risky-final-act-blunt-hawkish-china-tilt?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3328144/japans-outgoing-pm-eyes-risky-final-act-blunt-hawkish-china-tilt?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Oct 2025 02:30:07 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Sanae Takaichi is poised to make history as Japan’s first female prime minister, but her government may be imperilled before it even begins amid a deepening rift within the ruling coalition. The Liberal Democratic Party Takaichi now leads and its long-time junior partner, Komeito, have been in coalition for 26 years. Without Komeito’s parliamentary support, the LDP would lose its majority in the Diet, forcing its leader to seek new political allies. Yet analysts warn that Takaichi’s hardline... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3328004/japans-first-female-pm-hits-political-gridlock-she-even-takes-office?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3328004/japans-first-female-pm-hits-political-gridlock-she-even-takes-office?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Oct 2025 00:00:09 +0000 Ji Siqi Ji Siqi With Sanae Takaichi poised to become Japan’s first female prime minister, economists warn her policies may have “mixed” results: expansionary measures that spur growth but exacerbate fiscal strain, and coalition partners who temper a more hawkish stance on China amid a push for higher military spending. The 64-year-old conservative was elected leader of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on Saturday, paving the way for her to become the next prime minister as head of a coalition government –... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3328021/mixed-bag-how-japans-pm-waiting-may-fuel-growth-defence-and-debt?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3328021/mixed-bag-how-japans-pm-waiting-may-fuel-growth-defence-and-debt?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Oct 2025 13:00:08 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Conservative Sanae Takaichi hailed a “new era” on Saturday after winning the leadership of Japan’s ruling party, putting her on course to become the country’s first woman prime minister. The 64-year-old, whose hero is Margaret Thatcher, said that a “mountain of work” lay ahead to restore the fortunes of her ailing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). The LDP has governed Japan almost uninterrupted for decades, but it has been haemorrhaging support as backing grows for smaller parties, including the... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3327862/japans-ruling-ldp-pick-new-leader-amid-trump-summit-and-election-woes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3327862/japans-ruling-ldp-pick-new-leader-amid-trump-summit-and-election-woes?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Oct 2025 02:49:07 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall The race to see who will head Japan’s ruling party – which will also determine the country’s next prime minister – has veered off course, with one contender mired in a scandal over orchestrated online praise and another facing accusations of xenophobia over remarks about foreigners kicking sacred deer. The internal election for leadership of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), scheduled for Saturday, has quickly crystallised into a two-way battle between Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, a... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3327458/scandals-gaffes-mar-japans-ldp-leadership-race-they-have-no-policies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3327458/scandals-gaffes-mar-japans-ldp-leadership-race-they-have-no-policies?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Oct 2025 02:00:18 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow As Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party begins the process of selecting a new leader – and by extension, the country’s next prime minister – the race is quickly shaping into a duel between a conservative heir to Shinzo Abe’s legacy and a reformist standard-bearer promising broader appeal within the divided party. The party’s internal election on October 4 follows Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s resignation after barely a year in office, with the winner expected to assume leadership through a... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3327041/japans-next-leader-ldp-showdown-pits-abe-protege-against-reformist-scion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3327041/japans-next-leader-ldp-showdown-pits-abe-protege-against-reformist-scion?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Sep 2025 00:00:14 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow When Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced on September 7 that he would step down after his party was trounced at the parliamentary polls earlier this year, the country was already staring at what could be an era of flux, marked by revolving door leaders who are slaves to approval ratings amid relentless electoral cycles. And this trend, according to observers, is likely to persist, pulling Tokyo into a period reminiscent of the 1990s and 2000s when prime ministers were replaced... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3327047/ishiba-exits-japan-doomed-revolving-door-era-political-instability?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3327047/ishiba-exits-japan-doomed-revolving-door-era-political-instability?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Sep 2025 00:00:23 +0000 Nicholas Spiro Nicholas Spiro Not long ago, the yen was seen as a refuge in times of turmoil. Japanese companies had a reputation for repatriating overseas earnings when sentiment in global markets deteriorated sharply. Japan itself was seen as politically and economically stable, encouraging investors to buy the yen as a hedge against volatility. Even today, Japan is one of the most attractive markets among the world’s leading economies. The results of Bank of America’s latest Asia Fund Manager Survey on September 16 showed... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3326767/4-reasons-japans-yen-safe-haven-trade-distant-memory?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3326767/4-reasons-japans-yen-safe-haven-trade-distant-memory?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Sep 2025 08:30:09 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Japan could soon see its first female prime minister, with Sanae Takaichi emerging among the front runners in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s leadership race, a significant achievement in a country where women leaders remain a rarity. Hardline conservative Takaichi has consistently been a public favourite, along with Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, ahead of the LDP’s leadership vote on October 4. Last year, Takaichi narrowly lost to outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in the... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3326302/japans-thatcher-inspired-takaichi-aims-pm-despite-gender-gap?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3326302/japans-thatcher-inspired-takaichi-aims-pm-despite-gender-gap?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Sep 2025 10:42:07 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Komeito, the Buddhist-backed political partner of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), is grappling with what it calls an “existential crisis” after a bruising defeat in July’s Upper House election compounded internal fractures and exposed a growing disconnect with its traditional support base. The party’s stark assessment was contained in a postmortem report, formally approved on Thursday, that acknowledged the scale of the setback. At a subsequent senior party meeting, Secretary... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3325380/japans-buddhist-backed-komeito-facing-existential-crisis-after-bruising-election-defeat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3325380/japans-buddhist-backed-komeito-facing-existential-crisis-after-bruising-election-defeat?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Sep 2025 00:00:13 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Less than 24 hours after Shigeru Ishiba announced his resignation as prime minister, Japan’s ruling party faces a leadership contest that few seem eager to win and even fewer to survive, as it lays bare internal rivalries. Few within Japanese politics were truly taken aback when Ishiba confirmed his decision to step down as leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in a televised address on Sunday evening. On Monday, former LDP secretary general Toshimitsu Motegi became the first to throw his... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3324720/who-will-be-japans-next-pm-poisoned-chalice-leadership-awaits-ldps-winner?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3324720/who-will-be-japans-next-pm-poisoned-chalice-leadership-awaits-ldps-winner?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Sep 2025 08:13:41 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced on Sunday that he will resign, following growing calls from his party to take responsibility for a historic defeat in July’s parliamentary election. Ishiba, who took office in October, said he was stepping down as prime minister and as the head of his conservative Liberal Democratic Party. The 68-year-old centrist had resisted demands from opponents further to the right within his own party to resign. Ishiba argued that he wanted to avoid a... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3324644/japan-pm-shigeru-ishiba-resign-avoid-split-ruling-ldp?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3324644/japan-pm-shigeru-ishiba-resign-avoid-split-ruling-ldp?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Sep 2025 06:45:29 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is presiding over a political “house of cards” that analysts say is looking more shaky every day, as he continues to resist growing calls from within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to step down. This week, the chorus demanding Ishiba’s resignation grew louder after the LDP released an internal report examining its dismal performance in July’s Upper House election. The party lost 18 seats, leaving it short of a parliamentary majority even with its... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3324332/japans-house-cards-ishiba-clings-power-hawks-demand-ldp-election?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3324332/japans-house-cards-ishiba-clings-power-hawks-demand-ldp-election?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Sep 2025 00:00:14 +0000 Nicholas Spiro Nicholas Spiro Japan has entered a period of profound change. Inflation has returned after decades of deflation and stagnation. Japan’s relations with the United States, which helped underpin the post-war global order, have deteriorated dramatically. A culturally homogenous nation is experiencing an epic boom in tourism. More surprisingly, a country renowned for political stability is at risk from the anti-establishment populism that has upended politics in other advanced economies. The ruling Liberal... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3319789/inflation-political-turmoil-wont-put-investors-japanese-property?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3319789/inflation-political-turmoil-wont-put-investors-japanese-property?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 28 Jul 2025 08:30:08 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s future is uncertain, but an unlikely campaign for him to stay was growing online this week, including from people who are his natural political opponents. The life raft has emerged since upper house elections on Sunday deprived Ishiba’s coalition of an upper house majority, months after it suffered a similar disaster in the lower chamber. Despite Ishiba, 68, insisting that he has not discussed his resignation with members of his Liberal Democratic Party... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3319636/japans-ishiba-finds-unlikely-support-stay-power-and-prevent-far-right-shift?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3319636/japans-ishiba-finds-unlikely-support-stay-power-and-prevent-far-right-shift?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Jul 2025 13:00:14 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is grappling with an identity crisis, its decades-long political dominance rattled first by a humiliating electoral defeat and now, the anticipated resignation of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Ishiba, 68, on Wednesday dismissed as “completely unfounded” media reports that he had already decided to step down. But analysts contend that his departure is all but inevitable after the LDP’s second consecutive loss and the collapse of his minority... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3319299/japan-pm-ishibas-expected-exit-tips-ruling-ldp-crisis-mode?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3319299/japan-pm-ishibas-expected-exit-tips-ruling-ldp-crisis-mode?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Jul 2025 00:00:07 +0000 Maria Siow,Reuters Maria Siow,Reuters Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba denied on Wednesday that he planned to quit, following earlier reports that he intended to step down in the wake of a punishing upper house election defeat. The embattled 68-year-old leader insisted that media reports claiming he had already decided to quit were “completely unfounded”. Ishiba chose to remain in office immediately after Sunday’s electoral setback to avert political instability amid trade talks with the United States, according to a senior... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3319217/japan-pm-shigeru-ishiba-resign-after-election-drubbing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3319217/japan-pm-shigeru-ishiba-resign-after-election-drubbing?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Jul 2025 02:44:05 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Populist ideals are gaining traction in Japan, spurred by right-wing politicians running rampant elsewhere railing against “elitism”, “globalism” and immigration. While Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s coalition lost its upper house majority in an election on Sunday, the “Japanese first” Sanseito party, created only five years ago, increased its seats from two to 15. Sanseito’s agenda comes straight from the copybook of right-wing movements such as US President Donald Trump’s “Make America Great... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3319120/echoes-trump-and-farage-reach-japan-populist-wave-grows?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3319120/echoes-trump-and-farage-reach-japan-populist-wave-grows?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Jul 2025 07:50:27 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall With his grasp on power slipping, Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has vowed to remain in office despite a stinging electoral rebuke that plunged his ruling coalition into fresh turmoil. The humiliating setback, confirmed late on Sunday, has fuelled doubts about Ishiba’s leadership as rivals within his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) circle and stoked anxiety in the world’s fourth-largest economy, already reeling from rising prices, mounting security threats and the disruptive effects of US... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3319039/ishibas-last-stand-japans-ldp-turmoil-sanseito-surge-erodes-pms-grip-power?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3319039/ishibas-last-stand-japans-ldp-turmoil-sanseito-surge-erodes-pms-grip-power?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Jul 2025 00:00:12 +0000 Reuters Reuters The fringe far-right Sanseito party emerged as one of the biggest winners in Japan’s upper house election on Sunday, gaining support with warnings of a “silent invasion” of immigrants and pledges for tax cuts and welfare spending. Birthed on YouTube during the Covid-19 pandemic spreading conspiracy theories about vaccinations and a cabal of global elites, the party broke into mainstream politics with its “Japanese First” campaign. The party won 14 seats, according to public broadcaster NHK,... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3318943/sanseitos-japanese-first-gains-traction-amid-concerns-over-immigration-economy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3318943/sanseitos-japanese-first-gains-traction-amid-concerns-over-immigration-economy?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Jul 2025 01:55:37 +0000 Reuters,Maria Siow Reuters,Maria Siow Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s ruling coalition failed to secure a majority in the 248-seat upper house in a crucial parliamentary election on Sunday, Japan’s NHK public television said on Monday. Ishiba’s Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition partner Komeito needed to win 50 seats on top of the 75 seats they already have to reach the goal. With two more seats to be decided, the coalition had only 46 seats. While the ballot does not directly determine whether Ishiba’s shaky... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3318885/weakened-mandate-looms-ishiba-japan-votes-upper-house-election?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3318885/weakened-mandate-looms-ishiba-japan-votes-upper-house-election?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 20 Jul 2025 01:22:39 +0000