With flowers and a gun salute, Japan bids farewell to Abe at state funeral
Tokyo, JapanReuters With flowers, prayers and a 19-gun salute, Japan honoured slain former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday at the first state funeral for a former premier in 55 years – a ceremony that has become as controversial as he was in life. The ceremony started at 2pm, with Abe’s ashes carried into the […]
Japan’s funeral for divisive slain PM Shinzo Abe fuels backlash
Tokyo, JapanReuters Japan will honour former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe with a rare state funeral on Tuesday, a ceremony that has become a flashpoint for public anger over political scandal and deepened opposition to successor Fumio Kishida. Abe’s assassination in July touched off a series of revelations about ties between lawmakers in the ruling Liberal […]
Japan’s Okinawa may be on the front lines again as it marks anniversary of US handover
Miyako Island, JapanReuters Seihan Nakazato wants the missile trucks on the base next to his melon farm to leave, but few others on Okinawa’s Miyako island, he complains, are demanding that Japan’s army remove such weapons, which he says would make them a target for China. “We are a small community and there are lots […]
In Japan, efforts afoot to win hearts, and votes, of the alienated young
Tokyo, JapanReuters Momoko Nojo’s campaign for Japan’s upcoming election revolves around social media and T-shirts, but she’s not running for office. Instead, the activist is fighting a different battle – against the apathy that keeps young voters away from the polls. It’s no wonder the young don’t vote, with many of them saying candidates are […]
Outcome uncertain as Japan’s ruling party heads to vote on next PM
Tokyo, JapanReuters Japan’s ruling party votes on Wednesday for the country’s next prime minister in an election that has turned into the most unpredictable race since Shinzo Abe made a surprise comeback almost a decade ago, defeating a popular rival in a runoff. The winner of the 29th September contest to lead the conservative Liberal […]
Struggling Japan PM Suga steps down, setting stage for new leader
Tokyo, JapanReuters Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said on Friday he would step down, setting the stage for a new premier after a one-year tenure marred by an unpopular COVID-19 response and rapidly dwindling public support. Suga, who took over after Shinzo Abe resigned last September, citing ill health, has seen his support ratings sink […]