Sanae Takaichi elected LDP leader, likely next PM
Former internal affairs minister Sanae Takaichi won the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s presidential election on Saturday in a runoff vote, defeating farm minister Shinjiro Koizumi.
Category: Election
PM Ishiba to Resign after July Election Defeat
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Sunday announced his resignation following his ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s major defeat in the July House of Councillors election. At a hastily called press conference, Ishiba said he has decided to resign as president of the LDP, meaning he will also step down as prime minister.
Prefectural Governors Call for Multicultural Society
Japanese prefectural governors issued a declaration Thursday vowing to seek a multicultural society while rejecting exclusivism and xenophobia. The governors also called for nation-building efforts across party lines, noting that the people of the country need a long-term vision for the future. The declaration was adopted at a meeting of the National Governors’ Association in the northeastern city of Aomori, after the ruling Liberal Democratic Party-Komeito coalition lost its majority in the House of Councillors in Sunday’s election.
Post Japan Election Analysis: Sanseito Leader Kamiya Claimed Developmental Disabilities “do not exist” in 2022 Pamphlet [Podcast Episode]
Sohei Kamiya, founder and prominent figure of the right-wing political party Sanseito, faced criticism from disability rights groups and medical experts in the lead up to the election after remarks made in a party-published booklet that denied the existence of developmental disabilities resurfaced.
Sanseito Leader Kamiya Claimed Developmental Disabilities “do not exist” in 2022 Pamphlet
Sohei Kamiya, founder and prominent figure of the right-wing political party Sanseito, faced criticism from disability rights groups and medical experts in the lead up to the election after remarks made in a party-published booklet that denied the existence of developmental disabilities resurfaced.
Record 42 Women Elected to Japan’s Upper House
Forty-two women were elected to the House of Councillors in Sunday’s election, hitting a record high for the upper chamber of Japan’s parliament. The number of female candidates reached 152, the second highest on record. Of them, 27.6 pct were elected, surpassing the success rate of 22.4 for male candidates. Women made up 33.6 pct of all elected candidates, exceeding 30 pct for the first time.
People with intellectual disabilities create election dictionary
A group of people with intellectual disabilities in Japan has created and published an online dictionary for teaching others about election-related terms and the steps to vote. With Sunday’s election for the House of Councilors — the upper chamber of the Diet, the country’s parliament — drawing closer, in-person and online study sessions have been held using the dictionary. The 236-page “Senkyo no Kotoba” (terms of election) dictionary contains about 170 election-related terms, such as “the right to vote,” “candidate” and “democracy,” and the voting procedure is explained in hiragana letters in principle. The group of about 30 people, mostly users of Soshien, a social welfare organization for people with intellectual disabilities in the city of Higashiosaka in Osaka Prefecture, spent a year making the dictionary from April 2024.
“We’ll see more clashes between Japanese people and foreigners in society” says Sanseito Leader Sohei Kamiya at Stump Speech in Western Japan
Sanseito, which is seen expanding its Upper House presence by gaining constituency and proportional representation seats, based on public opinion polls, is advocating a “Japanese First” policy. It is urging that Japan review its admission of foreigners. “We’ll see more clashes between Japanese people and foreigners in society,” Sanseito leader Sohei Kamiya said in a stump speech Thursday in Maibara, Shiga Prefecture, western Japan, expressing concern over the government’s current policies.
Sounds of Election Time in Japan! [Podcast Episode]
Friday 18th July is two days before election day for the Upper House in Japan on Sunday 20th July. Here are some sounds of the parties canvassing for votes in Kobe and Kyoto.
Foreigners at center of debate in Japan’s tense election campaign [Podcast Episode]
Ahead of the July 20 House of Councillors election, policies toward foreigners in Japan have emerged as a central issue, with minor conservative opposition parties gaining momentum amid waning support for the long-dominant ruling bloc. Analysts warn that the discussion extends beyond short-term electioneering, saying that if xenophobic rhetoric — often lacking a factual basis — gains broader acceptance, it could deepen discrimination and social divisions.
Barrier Free Japan 