Author: Tobias Harris

JAPAN: How Suga will manage Japan’s foreign policy, part III

Teneo September 25, 2020

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has acknowledged the need for a reset in relations with South Korea but is unlikely to close the trust deficit with Seoul. A diplomatic breakthrough with North Korea will similarly prove elusive, depending more on Pyongyang’s priorities than Tokyo’s.… Read the rest

Tobias Harris

Teneo March 6, 2020

Tobias Harris is an expert on Japanese politics, and worked in 2006-2007 on the staff of Keiichiro Asao, at that time a member of the upper house of the Japanese Diet and shadow foreign minister for the Democratic Party of Japan, for whom he conducted research on foreign policy and Japan’s relations with the United States.… Read the rest

JAPAN: Liberal Democratic Party is quickly consolidating around Suga

Teneo August 31, 2020

Ahead of a 1 September meeting to finalize a decision about how to select a replacement for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is closing ranks around Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga.

… Read the rest

JAPAN: How Suga will manage Japan’s foreign policy, part I

Speevr Moderator September 22, 2020

As Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga settles in to office, the most significant outstanding question about his premiership is how he will manage Japan’s foreign policy.
While foreign policy institutions will remain the same, some personnel changes could mean a more prominent role for the foreign ministry.

… Read the rest

JAPAN: Suga wins leadership handily and seeks to form cabinet “for the people”

Teneo September 14, 2020

Yoshihide Suga won an overwhelming victory in the race to succeed Shinzo Abe as leader of the Liberal Democratic Party and will form a government this week.
His cabinet picks will signal who leads among the LDP’s next generation of leaders, his relationship with the party and its factions, and his ability to form a stable government in his own right.

… Read the rest

JAPAN: Suga’s cabinet offers bland continuity but honeymoon is still likely

Teneo September 16, 2020

Yoshihide Suga was officially selected as Japan’s prime minister by the Diet on Wednesday, 16 September.
Suga’s cabinet retains ten members from its predecessor, but the new members contain few politicians who will raise excitement about the government.

… Read the rest

JAPAN: Suga gathers strength as LDP leadership race begins

Teneo September 9, 2020

The contenders to succeed Shinzo Abe as leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and prime minister officially declared their candidacies on Tuesday, 8 September, the start of a short campaign before the vote on 14 September.

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JAPAN: Abe’s resignation leaves successor to face a challenging policy agenda

Teneo September 1, 2020

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)’s executive council formally decided on Tuesday, 1 September, on the timing and method for selecting a leader to succeed Shinzo Abe as LDP president and prime minister.… Read the rest

JAPAN: Abe’s resignation leaves successor to face a challenging policy agenda

Teneo August 28, 2020

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced on Friday, 28 August that he would step down as prime minister and leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), effective as soon as the party selects a successor.

… Read the rest

JAPAN: Is Abe’s second hospital visit a sign that history will repeat?

Teneo August 24, 2020

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe returned to the hospital on Monday, 24 August, his second unexpected hospital visit in as many weeks.
However, without more information about Abe’s condition, it is difficult to forecast how the increasingly fluid situation will unfold in the immediate term.

… Read the rest