Japan
Japanese PM reshuffles cabinet to push tax hike
By John Watanabe, January 16, 2012
Yoshihiko Noda carried out an anticipated cabinet reshuffle last Friday in a bid to consolidate his grip on power amid continued infighting within the ruling Democratic Party of Japan.
Japanese PM’s support for US trade pact provokes opposition
By John Chan, November 17, 2011
Noda’s announced commitment to the TPP is designed to signal Japan’s strong support for Washington’s broader campaign against China.
Japanese government proposes major tax increases
By John Chan, September 23, 2011
Like its counterparts around the world, the ruling Democratic Party of Japan is imposing the burdens of the worsening global economic crisis onto the backs of working people.
Mass protest in Tokyo against nuclear power
By John Chan, September 21, 2011
The 60,000-strong rally was the largest since the March 11 earthquake that triggered the Fukushima nuclear plant meltdown.
Japan: Six months after the triple disaster
By Peter Symonds, September 12, 2011
Just as in tsunami-hit Aceh in Indonesia, the devastation in Japan has been greatly compounded by the dictates of the profit system.
An unstable new government in Japan
By John Chan, September 7, 2011
Prime Minister Noda’s efforts to balance factional interests will do nothing to resolve the fundamental underlying dilemmas facing his government and the Japanese political establishment as a whole.
New Japanese PM pledges austerity measures
By Peter Symonds, August 30, 2011
Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda yesterday won the leadership of the DPJ but takes over a party deeply divided on fundamental economic and foreign policy issues.
Moody’s credit downgrade sends warning to Japan’s next leader
By John Chan, August 27, 2011
The new government will face the impossible task of boosting growth amid deepening global economic turmoil, while cutting spending and imposing greater tax burdens on working people.
Japanese government seeks to defuse opposition to nuclear industry
By Mike Head, August 20, 2011
Amid further reports of radiation dangers, the Kan government is trying to overcome popular anger and distrust by integrating two regulatory agencies into a Nuclear Safety Agency.
Japanese prime minister set to step down
By John Chan, August 17, 2011
Kan is likely to be removed by the end of August, amid a stagnant economy and widespread distrust of the government’s handling of the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
Japanese PM sacks three top nuclear officials
By Peter Symonds, August 6, 2011
In the wake of the Fukushima disaster, what characterises the political climate in Japan is a generalised public suspicion, hostility and distrust of all the major parties.
After Fukushima: Massive global expansion of nuclear industry under way
By William Whitlow, July 6, 2011
A report from the Economist Intelligence Unit predicts a massive worldwide growth in nuclear energy production over the next decade.
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