Topic: Liberal Democratic Party of Japan

Can Japan's prime minister fix the economy?

Yukio Hatoyama plans to tackle climate change and Japan's bureaucracy. He takes office Wednesday, but there's no sign of a bold new initiative for the economy.

Japan's neighbors welcome new leadership

Chinese state media and South Korea’s president expressed hope at closer regional ties under Yukio Hatoyama’s DPJ party, which won elections by a landslide Sunday.

Japan's next PM: change agent, but he's no Obama

Yukio Hatoyama comes from four generations of politicians from the ruling LDP, which his DPJ party just ousted from power.

Japan's opposition crushes LDP in landmark victory

Exit polls on Sunday gave the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) more than 300 seats in Japan's 480-seat Diet (parliament), ending more than 54 years of nearly unbroken rule by the Liberal Democratic Party.

Japan's opposition touts fresh faces in bid for election victory

The Democratic Party of Japan has promoted women and younger candidates who have not risen through traditional routes to power.

Rural Japan warms to opposition as election looms

Long a ruling-party stronghold, small towns and farming communities are disillusioned by their waning political influence – and are willing to try new leaders.

The Monitor's View: Is this Japan's turn for revolution?

Sunday's election may directly turn out the ruling party for the first time and bring in a party less servile to the US. Both events should be welcomed.

Opinion: Japan must shake off US-style globalization

The likely next prime minister outlines his hopes for a more Asia-focused Japan.

Japan's ruling LDP lays out its campaign platform

Prime Minister Aso's long-ruling party is under fire as polls indicate strong support for the opposition Democratic Party of Japan. The vote is Aug. 30.

Japan's embattled ruling party sets date for election

The Aug. 30 vote could end its nearly uninterrupted half century in power.

In election season, Japan's voters more skeptical of 'hereditary' candidates

Amid recession woes, some politicians see an opening in a system long tipped toward political families.

The Monitor's View: Why Obama can't be soft on North Korea

Japan and South Korea already see him as eroding the US military posture in Asia.

Japan quietly seeks global leadership niches

The island nation seeks to carve out a bigger role in world affairs as a 'soft power.'

World

Japan's $1 trillion to the rescue?

Ahead of the G-20 summit on the financial crisis, many are eyeing Japan's huge foreign reserves. But Tokyo is reluctant to use them on struggling nations.

Japan's ruling party hopes Aso will restore its reputation

As a popular politician, Olympian, and fan of manga comics, Taro Aso contrasts sharply with the lackluster former prime minister, whose shoes he is likely to fill on Wednesday.

Reporters on the Job

Daunting tasks face Japan's next premier

After Fukuda, Japan is looking for a leader who can fix a flagging economy and political stagnation.

Japan's unpopular prime minister resigns

Yasuo Fukuda's term was beset with political gridlock and economic problems.

In Japan, mounting anger over bread-and-butter issues

Rising prices, shortages of food items, and political gridlock spur calls for a quick election.

Bank of Japan struggle tests prime minister's leadership

The opposition rejected a second candidate Wednesday.