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Japan Innovation Party

A prominent Osaka based conservative and centre-right to right-wing populist political party. Its main areas of focus include decentralisation, constitutional reform, free education and economic liberalisation.

Yoshihiko Noda (left) and Tetsuo Saito announce their resignation as co-leaders of the opposition Centrist Reform Alliance at a press conference in Tokyo on Monday. Photo: Xinhua

Japan

A doomed experiment? Japan’s opposition struggles to regroup amid crushing loss

A 124-seat collapse has left the Centrist Reform Alliance in tatters, with observers calling the defeat a ‘debacle of epic proportions’.

12 Feb 2026 - 5:25PM

Japan

Opinion | Will Japan’s election result trigger a security spiral with China?

12 Feb 2026 - 8:38AMvideocam

China-Japan relations

Takaichi wins election landslide amid China dispute

9 Feb 2026 - 5:25PM

Japan

Japan’s ‘Iron Lady’ Takaichi sweeps election with historic win

Sanae Takaichi’s coalition secures 352 seats in parliament’s lower house, handing the prime minister a supermajority.

10 Feb 2026 - 8:29AMvideocam

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Japan

Japan workshop helps young voters spot deepfakes ahead of general election

Digital platforms are trying to curb the adverse impact of disinformation and fake news on Generation Z ahead of Japan’s election on Sunday.

8 Feb 2026 - 5:00AM

Japan

Japan set to revive WWII military titles in controversial shift

While some argue the change aligns Japan with global norms, others say better pay – not historical titles – is what soldiers really need.

3 Feb 2026 - 5:27PM

Japan

Japan’s Takaichi seeks mandate, improved majority with snap election: poll

The election outlook remains uncertain, with almost a quarter of voters undecided ahead of the February 8 election.

1 Feb 2026 - 10:33PM

Japan

Macroscope | Could Japan stop being the ballast of the bond market?

A lower house election victory would give flight to Prime Minister Takaichi’s fiscal expansionism – and introduce upheaval far beyond Japan.

31 Jan 2026 - 5:41PM

Japan

Security or freedom? Japan’s proposed anti-spy laws raise human rights concerns

Prime Minister Takaichi’s plans to tighten spying and secrecy rules could be used to stifle free speech and media freedom, analysts say.

14 Dec 2025 - 10:01AMvideocam

Japan

Japan’s populist debt-fuelled spending plan alarms economists

With the yen already weak, experts fear the massive borrowing scheme will drive up import costs for everything from food to fuel.

27 Nov 2025 - 7:22AMvideocam

A man looks at a board displaying stock prices on the Tokyo Stock Exchange last month. Photo: AFP

Japan

Could Osaka be Japan’s second capital? Takaichi appears to demur on ally’s plan

A key demand of the Japan Innovation Party in its alliance with the Liberal Democratic Party is for Osaka to be Tokyo’s backup capital.

22 Nov 2025 - 2:24PM

Tourists visiting the main crossroads of the popular Shinsekai area in Osaka as Tsutenkaku Tower (centre) looms in the background. Osaka is traditionally a more liberal city. Photo: AFP

Japan

‘Peace-loving’ Japan to ease weapons export rules amid rising security tensions

The three principles guiding defence equipment exports and broader security tenets are expected to be updated.

27 Oct 2025 - 8:00AMvideocam

Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)

Video | Parliament elects Japan’s first female leader

A newly forged coalition between Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party and the Ishin Party may lead to instability, posing a threat to her new administration.

21 Oct 2025 - 4:27PM

Japan

Takaichi becomes Japan’s first female PM, ending political crisis

The LDP chief, who heads a fragile coalition, faces multiple challenges including tackling inflation and holding talks with Trump.

21 Oct 2025 - 6:22PMvideocam

Japan

‘Weirdest alliance’: Japan’s new ruling coalition tipped for collapse

The Innovation Party’s backing looks set to make Sanae Takaichi Japan’s first female PM, but analysts don’t expect their alliance to last.

20 Oct 2025 - 6:35PMvideocam

Sanae Takaichi (right), the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, meets Hirofumi Yoshimura (second left) and Fujmitake Fuijta, leaders of the Japan Innovation Party in parliament in Tokyo, on Wednesday. Photo: Kyodo News via AP

Japan

Controversy overshadows policy in race to be Japan’s next PM

Koizumi has had to apologise over an orchestrated online praise campaign, while Takaichi is facing accusations of xenophobia.

7 Oct 2025 - 1:57PM

Japan

Is Japan becoming anti-immigrant? Far-right parties gain momentum

Ahead of the House of Councillors election on Sunday, rival parties are stepping up their rhetoric over the presence of foreigners in Japan.

16 Jul 2025 - 9:44AM

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Japan Innovation Party

A doomed experiment? Japan’s opposition struggles to regroup amid crushing loss

A 124-seat collapse has left the Centrist Reform Alliance in tatters, with observers calling the defeat a ‘debacle of epic proportions’.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}Opinion | Will Japan’s election result trigger a security spiral with China?

Takaichi wins election landslide amid China dispute

Japan’s ‘Iron Lady’ Takaichi sweeps election with historic win

Sanae Takaichi’s coalition secures 352 seats in parliament’s lower house, handing the prime minister a supermajority.

Japan workshop helps young voters spot deepfakes ahead of general election

Digital platforms are trying to curb the adverse impact of disinformation and fake news on Generation Z ahead of Japan’s election on Sunday.

Japan set to revive WWII military titles in controversial shift

While some argue the change aligns Japan with global norms, others say better pay – not historical titles – is what soldiers really need.

Japan’s Takaichi seeks mandate, improved majority with snap election: poll

The election outlook remains uncertain, with almost a quarter of voters undecided ahead of the February 8 election.

Macroscope | Could Japan stop being the ballast of the bond market?

A lower house election victory would give flight to Prime Minister Takaichi’s fiscal expansionism – and introduce upheaval far beyond Japan.

Security or freedom? Japan’s proposed anti-spy laws raise human rights concerns

Prime Minister Takaichi’s plans to tighten spying and secrecy rules could be used to stifle free speech and media freedom, analysts say.

Japan’s populist debt-fuelled spending plan alarms economists

With the yen already weak, experts fear the massive borrowing scheme will drive up import costs for everything from food to fuel.

Could Osaka be Japan’s second capital? Takaichi appears to demur on ally’s plan

A key demand of the Japan Innovation Party in its alliance with the Liberal Democratic Party is for Osaka to be Tokyo’s backup capital.

‘Peace-loving’ Japan to ease weapons export rules amid rising security tensions

The three principles guiding defence equipment exports and broader security tenets are expected to be updated.

.css-rcruog{color:#C79A00;}Video | Parliament elects Japan’s first female leader

A newly forged coalition between Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party and the Ishin Party may lead to instability, posing a threat to her new administration.

Takaichi becomes Japan’s first female PM, ending political crisis

The LDP chief, who heads a fragile coalition, faces multiple challenges including tackling inflation and holding talks with Trump.

‘Weirdest alliance’: Japan’s new ruling coalition tipped for collapse

The Innovation Party’s backing looks set to make Sanae Takaichi Japan’s first female PM, but analysts don’t expect their alliance to last.

Controversy overshadows policy in race to be Japan’s next PM

Koizumi has had to apologise over an orchestrated online praise campaign, while Takaichi is facing accusations of xenophobia.

Is Japan becoming anti-immigrant? Far-right parties gain momentum

Ahead of the House of Councillors election on Sunday, rival parties are stepping up their rhetoric over the presence of foreigners in Japan.

Opinion | Will Japan’s election result trigger a security spiral with China?

Video | Parliament elects Japan’s first female leader