Asia September 24, 2021 JAPAN: BOJ holds during the interregnum, details green lending facility Japan, Politics James Brady The Bank of Japan (BOJ) held steady on policy and interest rates and remains cautiously optimistic on growth prospects, despite growing headwinds across Asia. Governor Kuroda also gave additional details of the new Climate Response Financing Operations, underlining how Japan’s... Read More...
Asia September 19, 2021 JAPAN: The next prime minister’s economic policy agenda is emerging Japan, Politics James Brady Taro Kono continues to lead in the polls as the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential race officially began on 17 September but the contest to become Japan’s next prime minister remains in flux, with factional unity breaking down and... Read More...
Asia September 10, 2021 JAPAN: Kono enters the race as government charts a path out of restrictions Japan, Politics Teneo Favorite Taro Kono has announced his LDP leadership candidacy running as a paternalistic conservative and has notably softened his opposition to nuclear power. Fumio Kishida is adopting a more populist economic rhetoric, and low-polling hardliner Sanae Takaichi would double down... Read More...
Asia September 3, 2021 JAPAN: The silence defeated Suga, as eyes turn now to Kono Japan, Politics James Brady Strategic silence from Abe and Aso undermined Yoshihide Suga, but the prime minister’s own gambits hastened his departure. Taro Kono is set to enter the race as the favorite, and Kishida may now be joined by Ishiba and other candidates. The... Read More...
Asia September 2, 2021 JAPAN: Suga juggles team but struggles to charm key groups; stimulus possible Japan, Politics James Brady In a fast-changing political environment, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga looks set to contest the 29 September party leadership contest as scheduled and may call the general election for mid-October. Amid a spirited challenge from Fumio Kishida, Suga will reshuffle his... Read More...
Asia August 31, 2021 JAPAN: Suga fights to win, as Kishida challenges and Kono ponders Japan, Politics James Brady With the pandemic reaching new levels of intensity, struggling Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga will fight for his position as head of his party and the government. Fumio Kishida is the most significant challenger to declare to date, while the popular... Read More...
Asia August 23, 2021 JAPAN: Yokohama loss narrows path forward for Suga, with no good options left Japan, Politics James Brady The defeat of the candidate he endorsed in the 22 August Yokohama mayoral election has further damaged Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s hopes of retaining power in two forthcoming elections, and calls into question casino resort proposals in that city. The... Read More...
Asia August 19, 2021 JAPAN: Challenges pour down for Suga as elections approach, contenders emerge Japan, Politics Teneo Surging Covid-19 cases are putting increasing pressure on both the medical system and the government, as Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga struggles to contain a fourth wave ahead of three elections that will determine his political fate. Record rains throughout the... Read More...
Asia April 20, 2021 JAPAN/US: Biden and Suga use first meeting to offer new vision Japan, Politics, US Tobias Harris US President Joe Biden welcomed Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to the White House on Friday, 16 April, Biden’s first in-person summit with a foreign leader since his inauguration and Suga’s first visit to the US as prime minister. Despite... Read More...
Asia March 24, 2021 JAPAN: Suga has no good option as he weighs election timing China, Japan, Politics, US Tobias Harris The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) held its annual convention for the first time since 2019 on 21 March amid speculation that Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga could call a general election as soon as April. Suga could be tempted as his... Read More...
