By Mari Yamaguchi Associated Press TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s ruling party summoned executives from two leading television networks Friday, the latest in a series of actions that opponents say endanger press freedom and intimidate the media. The Liberal Democratic Party’s panel on information and communications strategy questioned the executives from Asahi TV and public broadcaster […]
Japan’s ruling bloc wins upper house elections
By Malcolm Foster The Associated Press TOKYO (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ruling coalition won a comfortable majority in the upper house of parliament in elections July 21, giving it control of both chambers and a mandate to press ahead with difficult economic reforms. The win is an endorsement of the Liberal Democratic […]
Conservative LDP wins landslide victory in Japan
By Malcolm Foster The Associated Press TOKYO, Japan (AP) — Japan’s conservative Liberal Democratic Party returned to power in a landslide election victory Sunday, Dec. 16, after three years in opposition, according to unofficial results, signaling a rightward shift in the government that could further heighten tensions with China, a key economic partner, as well as […]
Japanese PM dissolves parliament
By Malcom Foster The Associated Press TOKYO, Japan (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda dissolved the lower house of parliament on Friday, Nov. 16, paving the way for elections in which his ruling party will likely give way to a weak coalition government divided over how to solve the nation’s problems.