The LDP Nine clash in Tokyo | Today in Japanese politics

LDP candidates have a debate, CDP candidates talk about the LDP campaign, Takaichi challenges the BOJ, and a Japanese diplomat heads to Moscow

Thank you for reading Observing Japan. In light of the volume of activity in Japanese politics, “This Week in Japanese Politics” will become “Today in Japanese Politics” through the LDP election on 27 September. I cannot guarantee it will truly be published daily, but my goal will be to update this feature several times a week for paid subscribers.

If you are looking for timely, forward-looking analysis of the stories in Japans’s politics and policymaking that move markets, I have launched a new service through my business, Japan Foresight LLC. For more information about Japan Foresight’s services or for information on how to sign up for a trial or schedule a briefing, please visit our website or reach out to me.

Japan Foresight clients received the following notes:

• “LDP campaign shows party’s major economic policy divisions,” 13 September

• “Curtain set to rise in the LDP’s free-for-all election,” 10 September

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Readers can also find my views on the LDP race in the following articles:

• Leo Lewis, “Japan gears up for ‘wild west’ leadership race,” Financial Times

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The rundown

The Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) candidates debated in Tokyo and then campaigned in Nagoya, with leaders in public polling attracting most of the questioning. In the Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP) leadership election, the candidates were in central Japan. Meanwhile, Kōmeitō’s outgoing leader sees a general election is imminent, an LDP candidate is increasingly outlining policies at odds with the Bank of Japan (BOJ), and, in foreign policy, the Japanese government hosted Canada’s defense minister and dispatched a senior diplomat to Moscow. Finally, the rivalry between Suga Yoshihide and Asō Tarō is drawing considerable attention.

LDP leadership election

LDP candidates participate in a debate at the National Press Club in Tokyo. Screenshot by author.

The LDP leadership campaign began its first weekend with a debate at the National Press Club (video here; outline here). In the debate, in which candidates are able to question each directly, Koizumi Shinjirō and Ishiba Shigeru, were on the receiving end of one more questions than other candidates, with each receiving three questions from other candidates. Despite her rise in the polls, Takaichi Sanae was not the target for any questions.

Ishiba was questioned about two of his flagship proposals, the creation of a disaster response ministry and an “Asian NATO,” as well as his position on nuclear power, dependence on which he wants reduced (though he has backed away from calling for zero nuclear). Koizumi, meanwhile, was questioned about his plans for lifting regulations on ridesharing businesses and labor market reforms, the latter an issue on which Koizumi has received increasingly fierce criticism. He reiterated that he will not call for businesses to make it easier to lay off workers, but will instead push for businesses to be required to help with “reskilling” and reemployment.