The government hopes to revitalize regional communities by increasing the number of nonresidents who maintain steady interaction with regional areas, internal affairs minister Yoshimasa Hayashi has said. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/11/03/japan/society/connected-population-revitalization/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #society #yoshimasahayashi #internalaffairsministry
How is Takaichi doing after a week at the helm?

The Japanese public's reaction to her first week as prime minister has been overwhelmingly positive.

The Japan Times
Sanae Takaichi stands tall, heads into the breach

Her Cabinet includes several rivals from the presidential campaign. It is an attempt to smooth over ill and a smart move.

The Japan Times
Sanae Takaichi's Cabinet picks reflect her strategy of balancing political alliances, rewarding loyal supporters, managing factional politics and bringing in fresh faces to navigate Japan's evolving political landscape. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/10/22/japan/takaichi-cabinet-picks/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #japan #sanaetakaichi #ldp #komeito #cabinet #shinjirokoizumi #yoshimasahayashi #toshimitsumotegi #ryoseiakazawa #minorukihara #satsukikatayama
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
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi on Tuesday welcomed the release of the last 20 living Israeli hostages by the militant group Hamas. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/10/14/japan/israeli-hostages-release-welcome/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #yoshimasahayashi #gaza #israel #hamas
Japan welcomes release of Israeli hostages in Gaza

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi on Tuesday welcomed the release of the last 20 living Israeli hostages by the militant group Hamas.

The Japan Times
Sanae Takaichi is set to become Japan's first female prime minister as the ruling LDP turns to her conservative leadership to restore stability amid internal division, economic pressure and strained U.S. relations. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/10/05/japan/is-takaichi-japans-thatcher-or-truss/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #japan #ldp #sanaetakaichi #shinjirokoizumi #yoshimasahayashi #toshimitsumotegi #takayukikobayashi
Will Sanae Takaichi be Japan’s Thatcher — or its Truss?

Takaichi is comfortably the most conservative choice the party could have made, if not the most right-leaning leader in recent history.

The Japan Times
A split of moderate votes in the first round and the support of a party kingmaker helped propel Sanae Takaichi to a historic victory in the LDP’s presidential race. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/10/05/japan/politics/vote-flow-ldp/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #sanaetakaichi #ldp #taroaso #shinjirokoizumi #yoshimasahayashi
How Takaichi won the LDP’s leadership race

A split of moderate votes in the first round and the support of an LDP kingmaker helped propel the former economic security minister to a historic victory.

The Japan Times
The Liberal Democratic Party is electing a new president on Saturday to unify the divided party and, in all likelihood, steer a minority government as Japan’s next prime minister. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/10/04/japan/politics/ldp-election-voting/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #ldp #sanaetakaichi #shinjirokoizumi #yoshimasahayashi #toshimitsumotegi #takayukikobayashi
Takaichi and Koizumi head to runoff in LDP leadership race

Sanae Takaichi, 64, came in first with 183 votes, while Shinjiro Koizumi, 44, won 164 votes, before moving on to a final vote to become party president — and most likely PM.

The Japan Times
The ruling LDP faces a critical election with candidates offering little change, struggling to regain traditional support and confronting a political landscape that has shifted dramatically in recent years. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/10/02/japan/ldp-not-likely-to-change-with-new-leader/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #japan #ldp #shinjirokoizumi #sanaetakaichi #yoshimasahayashi #takayukikobayashi #toshimitsumotegi
No matter who wins the LDP presidential race, prospects for change are dismal

The key for the LDP is whether the once-proud party can win back its traditional supporters who have abandoned it in recent elections and shifted to opposition parties.

The Japan Times