Archive - Observing Japan

Pension bill moves ahead as upper house campaign heats up | This Week in Japanese Politics

The LDP signs off on pension reform, Ishiba and Akazawa float trade trial balloons, and Ishiba talks free trade with international visitors

May 14 •

Rumbling on the right

The conservative anti-mainstream steps up its pressure on the prime minister, but its victory is far from assured

May 13 •

Hope for Ishiba?

New polls suggest that Ishiba's position, while not great, is hardly indefensible

May 13 •

Back to Business | This Week in Japanese Politics

With the Golden Week holidays done, the upper house campaign heats up

May 10 •

Ishiba goes global

What Ishiba and his colleagues did on their Golden Week holidays

May 2 •

Lashing himself to the mast

Ishiba raises the domestic stakes after the second round of talks with the US

May 2 •

April 2025

Plenty of malaise to go around

Ishiba has not turned the crisis to his advantage, but neither has anyone else

Apr 24 •

Noda versus Ishiba | This Week in Japanese Politics

The Diet debates Ishiba's handling of talks with Trump, while the Ishiba government refines its approach and prepares for the next round

Apr 23 •

When Akazawa met Trump

Japan faces diplomacy, Mar-a-Lago style

Apr 17 •

Akazawa in Washington | This Week in Japanese Politics

Japan prepares for the unexpected in trade talks, stimulus plans on hold, and the CDP fights over tax cuts

Apr 16 •

No port in a storm

Ishiba’s support stabilizes, but little sign that he is gaining from the crisis

Apr 14 •

Ishiba's balancing act

His government's approach to the Trump Shock is taking shape -- but it is easy to see how it could go wrong

Apr 12 •

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