Japan' Liberal Democratic Party is seeking to have the Democratic Party for the People become a coalition partner as it looks to cement its legislative power after a landslide victory in February's Lower House election. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/06/03/japan/politics/ldp-dpp-coalition/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #ldp #dpp #sanaetakaichi #yuichirotamaki #koichihagiuda #jip
The LDP wants another coalition partner. Will it happen?

The Liberal Democratic Party floated the idea of inviting the Democratic Party for the People to join the ruling bloc.

The Japan Times
A new support group has emerged within the Liberal Democratic Party with the aim of consolidating Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's power and preventing the rise of other groups that could mount a challenge against her. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/05/12/japan/politics/takaichi-support-group/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #sanaetakaichi #ldp #taroaso #koichihagiuda #shinjirokoizumi #toshimitsumotegi
LDP sees emergence of new support group for Takaichi

The group is endorsed by both party heavyweights who backed her in last year's presidential election and those who ran against her.

The Japan Times
The intense competition faced by Centrist Reform Alliance heavyweights in districts where they have enjoyed solid support for decades shows just how much of an uphill battle Sunday’s election is for the fledgling party. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/04/japan/politics/cra-veterans-tight-race/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #yukioedano #ichiroozawa #junazumi #koichihagiuda #2026lowerhouseelection #cra
CRA heavyweights’ heated contests allude to party’s uphill struggle in Sunday’s vote

Yukio Edano, Jun Azumi and Ichiro Ozawa are among candidates facing neck-and-neck races in their home turfs.

The Japan Times
Koichi Hagiuda, an LDP executive who is running in the Tokyo No. 24 constituency, is seeking to fully re-emerge from the party's high-profile slush fund scandal with an election victory. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/04/japan/politics/lower-house-election-tokyo-koichi-hagiuda/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #2026lowerhouseelection #koichihagiuda #ldp #politicalfunds #tokyo #komeito #hachioji
LDP executive seeks to leave slush fund scandal behind

Koichi Hagiuda was among the five leading figures of the now-defunct LDP faction once led by the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, which was at the center of the scandal.

The Japan Times
Recent remarks of senior members of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party-Japan Innovation Party coalition have put the topic of a snap election back into focus. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/08/japan/politics/diet-dissolution-snap-election/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #ldp #nipponishinnokai #sanaetakaichi #hirofumiyoshimura #koichihagiuda
Speculation over potential snap election resurfaces

Recent remarks of senior members of the ruling coalition appear to have gotten many talking again about the possibility of a dissolution of the Lower House in the near future.

The Japan Times
A wave of visits to Taiwan by Japanese lawmakers is underway, underscoring the close ties between Tokyo and Taipei and drawing a sharp response from Beijing. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/24/japan/politics/japan-lawmakers-visit-taiwan-china-anger/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #koichihagiuda #china #taiwan #chinajapanrelations #taiwanjapanrelations #sanaetakaichi #laichingte #ldp
Flurry of Japanese lawmaker visits to Taiwan sparks China’s anger

Visits by Japanese lawmakers to Taiwan are not unusual, but the current round comes at a time of heightened tensions between Japan and China.

The Japan Times
Koichi Hagiuda, deputy secretary-general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, and Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te on Monday agreed to strengthen Japan-Taiwan relations. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/23/japan/politics/japan-ldp-exec-taiwan-president-meet/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #koichihagiuda #laichingte #taiwanjapanrelations #ldp #chinajapanrelations
LDP exec Hagiuda and Taiwanese President Lai agree to boost ties

Hagiuda told Lai that he hopes to continue deepening what he described as the best-ever relations between the two sides.

The Japan Times
LDP lawmakers continue to visit Taiwan amid tensions with China

Meanwhile, it seems unlikely that a multiparty group of Japanese lawmakers for Japan-China friendship will be able to send a delegation to China by the end of this year.

The Japan Times
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Japan Innovation Party leader Hirofumi Yoshimura agreed to submit a bill during the current parliamentary session that will reduce the number of Lower House seats by 10%. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/01/japan/politics/seats-reduction-ldp-jip-agreement/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #ldp #nipponishinnokai #lowerhouse #diet #hirofumiyoshimura #komeito #koichihagiuda
Takaichi and JIP's Yoshimura agree to submit bill reducing Lower House seats

Passing a bill to cut seats in the lower chamber was a key demand for the Japan Innovation Party to enter into a coalition government with the Liberal Democratic Party.

The Japan Times
The move, approved after the launch of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s Cabinet, may draw criticism, as public sentiment on the scandal remains strong. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/10/23/japan/politics/slush-fund-lawmakers-posts/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #ldp #sanaetakaichi #koichihagiuda #corruption
Seven LDP slush fund lawmakers given government posts

The move may draw criticism, as public sentiment on the scandal remains strong.

The Japan Times