Japan politics

The 2-Level Game in Japan’s Agriculture Trade Negotiations

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The 2-Level Game in Japan’s Agriculture Trade Negotiations

Advertisement Perhaps no country fits the description of Robert Putnam’s “two-level game” theory better than Japan. Putnam describes international negotiations as a bargaining process not only with the international counterparts but also with domestic audiences. Successful negotiators can build winning coalitions among domestic political actors and use international agreement to overcome domestic resistance, as Putnam … Read more

Can Kishida Turn the LDP Into a Friend of Labor?

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Can Kishida Turn the LDP Into a Friend of Labor?

Advertisement For the first time in 16 years, a prime minister from the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) participated in a convention of Japan’s largest trade union national center, the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (commonly referred to as Rengo). In Prime Minister Kishida Fumio’s speech at the occasion, he praised Rengo’s efforts in achieving the highest … Read more

Japan’s Government Will Seek to Revoke Legal Status of Unification Church

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Japan’s Government Will Seek to Revoke Legal Status of Unification Church

Advertisement Japan’s government said Thursday it would ask a court to revoke the legal status of the Unification Church over a year after former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo’s assassination raised questions about the group’s fundraising and recruitment tactics. Education Minister Moriyama Masahito said the ministry proposed seeking the revocation after interviewing more than 170 people … Read more

Why Does the Japanese Left Hate Nippon Ishin So Much?

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Japan’s New Security Strategy, Part 2: The Ongoing Debates

Advertisement In a competitive democracy, it is common for an up-and-coming political party to be attacked by the party in power, out of fear of being supplanted, but also by the bulk of the opposition parties, concerned that they will be pushed aside into obscurity. At this moment in Japanese politics, there is no doubt … Read more

Japan Takes Another Step Toward Expanding Defense Exports

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Japan Takes Another Step Toward Expanding Defense Exports

Asia Defense | Security | East Asia The LDP-Komeito coalition is working to overcome internal differences on loosening the existing restrictions. Advertisement On July 6, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)-Komeito ruling coalition in Japan took another tentative step toward easing defense equipment export rules. A working group comprised of LDP and Komeito members produced an interim report that sets … Read more