The Japan TimesJan 17
Former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Saturday announced his decision not to run in the next Lower House election. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/17/japan/politics/suga-announces-retirement/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #yoshihidesuga #ldp
Former PM Suga announces retirement as lawmaker

'I've been considering the timing of retiring as a lawmaker since I turned 70,' Suga told reporters in Yokohama. 'I will now give way to the next generation.'

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesJan 17
Former Prime Minister and veteran lawmaker Yoshihide Suga reportedly won’t contest in the next Lower House election, which is likely to take place in February, and will retire from national politics. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/16/japan/politics/yoshihide-suga-no-election/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #yoshihidesuga #ldp #lowerhouse
Suga won’t run in next election, reports say

The former prime minister and veteran lawmaker is reportedly retiring from national politics.

The Japan Times
David GraylessJan 8
On 8 Jan 2021: Japan's Prime Minister #YoshihideSuga declares a state of emergency for Tokyo and surrounding areas after COVID-19 cases surge to their highest level.
David GraylessOct 26
#OnThisDay in 2020, Japanese Prime Minister #YoshihideSuga says the country will becomes carbon neutral by 2050.
The Japan TimesOct 21
Minoru Kihara, the “cool-headed” spokesman of Japan’s new prime minister, has many things in common with his new boss. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/10/21/japan/politics/who-is-minoru-kihara/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #minorukihara #sanaetakaichi #ldp #shinzoabe #yoshihidesuga #fumiokishida #hirokazumatsuno #shigeruishiba #yoshimasahayashi #kumamoto #taiwan
Who is Minoru Kihara, Takaichi’s new 'cool-headed' spokesman?

The former defense minister has many things in common with Japan’s first female prime minister.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesSep 29
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, the go-to problem solver in Japan's political center, might be facing his biggest challenge yet: convincing colleagues in the ruling party that he is best suited to lead them. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/09/29/japan/politics/ldp-hayashi-profile/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #ldp #sanaetakaichi #shinjirokoizumi #yoshimasahayashi #toshimitsumotegi #takayukikobayashi #fumiokishida #yoshihidesuga #taroaso #shigeruishiba
Japan’s ‘Mr. 119’ might be facing his biggest challenge yet

Time is running out for Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi to convince colleagues in the Liberal Democratic Party that he is best suited to lead them.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesSep 9, 2025
The Liberal Democratic Party will pick its next leader through a full-scale vote, a process that is likely to favor some more than others. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/09/09/japan/politics/presidential-election-schedule/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #ldp #shigeruishiba #sanaetakaichi #shinjirokoizumi #toshimitsumotegi #yoshimasahayashi #takayukikobayashi #fumiokishida #yoshihidesuga
LDP to pick next party leader through full-scale vote

Campaigning for the presidency will kick off on Sept. 22, with a final vote on Oct. 4.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesAug 15, 2025
As Japan marked 80 years since its surrender in World War II, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba expressed remorse at a memorial service in a notable break from his recent predecessors. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/08/15/japan/politics/end-of-ww2/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #wwii #shigeruishiba #emperornaruhito #empressmasako #shinzoabe #yoshihidesuga #fumiokishida #yoshihikonoda
As Japan marks 80 years since WWII surrender, Ishiba expresses remorse

The prime minister’s reflections about the war stood in contrast to those of his recent predecessors.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesJun 12, 2025
Japan's parliament on Wednesday passed into law a bill to convert the Science Council of Japan from a state organization into a special public corporation. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/06/12/japan/politics/science-council-conversion/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #sciencecouncilofjapan #yoshihidesuga #diet
Japan enacts law to turn Science Council into special entity

The new law for the council, which represents the country's scientific community, will come into effect in October 2026.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesMay 9, 2025
Prime Minister Ishiba’s visit to Vietnam and the Philippines highlighted Japan’s enduring Indo-Pacific strategy amid rising regional uncertainty. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/05/08/japan/japans-foip-strategy/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #japan #foip #shinzoabe #yoshihidesuga #fumiokishida #shigeruishiba #asia #indopacific #vietnam #philippines
Japan’s durable 'Free and Open Indo-Pacific' strategy brings stability

So while Ishiba’s visit to Southeast Asia may have just seemed like another round of trips during a holiday week, they were emblematic of something much more than that.

The Japan Times