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Laying out a new policy agenda ahead of national elections next month, Japan's governing party outlined a vision for the country's future on Friday that called for shrinking the size of government, taking a more assertive stance in Asia and strengthening the Japanese military.The list of 120 policy proposals by the Liberal Democratic Party helps draw the battle lines in Sept. 11's lower house elections, which were suddenly called by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi last week after lawmakers rejected by a narrow margin his bill to privatize Japan's massive postal system.The elections are widely seen here as a referendum on...

Countries around Asia are honouring their dead and calling for peace, as they mark the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II in the Pacific. In Japan, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said his nation felt "deep remorse" for the aggression shown towards its neighbours during the war. Commemorative services are also taking place in other Asian nations. But across the region, many still feel that Japan has yet to fully face up to, and atone for, its wartime actions. The war in the Pacific, which finally ended on 15 August 1945, killed millions of people from the jungles...

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi issued a statement on the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II on Monday, apologizing to the victims of Japan's past aggression and expressing willingness to join hands with Asian neighbors like China and South Korea to help maintain peace in the region. The statement, which the Cabinet adopted earlier in the day, was the first of its kind issued by a prime minister on the anniversary since 1995. While repeating the words of the apology he delivered in April in Jakarta, Koizumi directly referred to China and South Korea, in a gesture...

TOKYO (Reuters) - In a bid to paint itself as the true party of reform, Japan's main opposition unveiled a plan on Saturday to cut down the influence of powerful bureaucrats if it took power following next month's general election. Japan's bureaucracy has been credited for putting the country back on its feet from the ashes of World War Two, but it has also been blamed for representing vested interests and stalling structural reforms. In its 500-day plan for transfer of power, the Democratic Party said it would only appoint bureaucrats who pledge to follow the party's policy agenda to...

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is reportedly set to call an election for September 11, after parliament's upper house rejected one of his core reforms, a bid to privatise Japan's postal system. Media outlets in Japan have reported that Mr Koizumi met with leaders of his bitterly-divided Liberal Democratic Party after the upper house vote and said he would dissolve the lower house for an election. "We will select candidates for all electoral districts," he said, according to Jiji Press. He reportedly said he would not approve those who opposed the postal reforms. The LDP has governed for most of...

Koizumi to step down in Sept. next year TOKYO, June 15, Kyodo - Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Wednesday he will step down as premier when his tenure as president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party expires in September next year. He made the comment during a meeting of the House of Representatives' special committee for postal privatization.

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi gestures as he delivers a speech at a meeting to launch a campaign for the metropolitan assembly election.

China's Wu Yi cancels meeting with Japan PM KoizumiMon May 23, 2005 08:30 AM ET By Masayuki Kitano TOKYO (Reuters) - Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi cancelled a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Monday and flew back to China a day earlier than scheduled, saying she had domestic business to attend to. Koizumi said he did not know why Wu was returning to China, and officials in Beijing had no immediate comment on the cancellation of the meeting, which had been seen as another opportunity to improve frayed Sino-Japanese relations. "It would have been a good opportunity...

A panel chartered by Congress to advise on redeployments of U.S. forces abroad is questioning the wisdom of reducing the number of troops on Japan's Okinawa island at a time of strategic uncertainties in the region. In a report released Monday, the Overseas Basing Commission recommended that U.S. Marines at one Okinawan base, the Futenma Marine Corps Air Station, should be moved -- either to another U.S. base on the island, or to one located on Honshu, Japan's main island. Apart from Futenma, however, all other Marine Corps assets on Okinawa should remain there. "Okinawa is the strategic linchpin to...

Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Friday expressed "deep remorse" and "heartfelt apology" for Japan's wartime wrongdoings, in a gesture believed to be aimed at mending ties with its Asian neighbors that have soured due to historical issues surrounding Japan's war in Asia and its occupation of Korea. In a speech delivered to a meeting of Asian and African leaders held in the Indonesian capital, Koizumi also made a pitch for reforms of the U.N. Security Council and underscored Tokyo's qualifications as a potential permanent member of the U.N. decision-making body. "In the past, Japan, through its colonial rule...

Koizumi takes a turn with Gere Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and the Hollywood actor Richard Gere have treated reporters to an impromptu ballroom dance performance. Mr Koizumi took Gere's hand in front of a roomful of journalists and asked "Shall We Dance?"- the title of Gere's latest movie. Gere obliged, but insisted on taking the lead, as the two twirled around the room for a few seconds. Afterwards Gere described Mr Koizumi as "charming and spontaneous". Mr Koizumi returned the compliment, saying Gere, who is in Japan to promote Shall We Dance, was a great movie star and a...

TOKYO - Billionaire Japanese developer Yoshiaki Tsutsumi, once listed by Forbes as the world's richest man, was arrested Thursday over allegations of insider trading and falsifying financial statements at his company. Tsutsumi, 70, owns a major stake in Kokudo Corp., which controls Seibu Railway and its 85 subsidiaries. He also owns Prince Hotels Inc., the Seibu Lions professional baseball team and Seibu Construction Ltd. He was arrested on suspicion of violating the securities and exchange law, the Tokyo District Prosecutors' Office said. Prosecutors took Tsutsumi to a Tokyo detention center for questioning. Prosecutors also raided Seibu Railway's offices to gather...

/begin my translation N. Korea: Three Pillars of Regime, Personality Cult, Military, and Food Distribution, Collapsed three pillars, personality cult, military, and food distribution, collapsedN. Korean leader Kim Jong-il surrounded by soldiers(top);S. Korean President Roh Moo-hyun(bottom) Japanese "Diamond Weekly" (01/29/05): N. Korea sliding into a collapse - by Sakurai Yoshiko I am presenting the result of my investigation, done this month(January) in S. Korea, into how Roh Moo-hyun government would deal with N. Korea to solve problems of kidnapping, nukes, and missiles. What impressed me after a series of investigations is the contrast between N. Korea, which is on the...

Koizumi angry at two cops fleeing from club-wielding man Wednesday, February 23, 2005 at 07:18 JST TOKYO — Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Tuesday he has told Japan's public security chief to review police training and preparedness after viewing a television news report about a man easily chasing off two police officers. "I couldn't believe it when the police officers fled instead of trying to seize the suspect when he came at them," Koizumi said, referring to footage of an incident aired by Fuji Television Network on its morning news program. According to the report and police, police officers who...

ARMED FORCES OF THE WORLD: The Mighty Japanese Navy February 19, 2005: The JMSDF (Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force) is arguably the second-best navy in the Pacific, trailing only the United States Navy. The JMSDF has a large number modern surface combatants and the third-largest submarine force among Pacific naval powers, and it could be a potential player in any fight across the Formosa Strait due to the fact that Japan’s ties with Taiwan have become much closer. The primary surface vessels in the JMSDF are the destroyers. Japan’s had a long tradition of building a superb destroyer force – in...

Japan Urges North Korea to Rejoin Disarmament Talks By JAMES BROOKE and DAVID E. SANGER Published: February 12, 2005 TOKYO, Feb. 11 - The day after North Korea declared that it possessed nuclear weapons, Japan's prime minister urged the North to re-engage in disarmament talks. He spoke as the clock was running down toward a new law that will put economic pressure on North Korea by barring most of its ships from Japanese ports starting March 1. In Washington, Vice President Dick Cheney met South Korea's foreign minister on Friday and pressed him not to reward the North by pursuing...

Wednesday, January 19, 2005 at 15:53 JST TOKYO — Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Wednesday ruled out the possibility he will stay in office after the end of his term as head of a ruling party in September 2006. Koizumi also refrained from naming a possible successor, and only said he wants a "trustworthy reformer" to take over the reins of government. "I'm trying not to succumb to pressures or exhaustion as this will end in September next year at the latest," Koizumi said at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo. "As for my successor, I think aspirants will...

TOKYO, Jan. 16 - Like many Japanese businessmen these days, but particularly as co-chairman of the 21st Century Committee for Japan-China Friendship, Yotaro Kobayashi is worried about the state of affairs between Asia's two most powerful nations. On one hand, since the committee was formed in October 2003 under an agreement between the countries, Mr. Kobayashi, 71, who is also chairman of Fuji Xerox, has watched political relations fall to their lowest point in years. On the other hand, economic ties have continued to deepen, and China's rise has kept buoying up the Japanese economy. "Japan Inc.," the voguish term...

Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji recently cracked a joke about the Sept. 11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. Zhu told the joke to a captive audience of Asian executives during the April Bao business conference held on Hainan Island. Zhu's remarks came during a question-and-answer session with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. According to Zhu, "Japan bought many huge buildings in New York, but luckily they didn't buy the World Trade Center. If they had bought them, now the Japanese would be sadder than the Americans." Zhu's joke was quickly followed by a long round of laughter and applause...

TOKYO: Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi vowed 2005 would be another year of global engagement for Japan, with troops to stay in Iraq and pressure maintained on North Korea. “Japan can ensure security and prosperity on the condition that the international community maintains peace and stability,” Koizumi said in a New Year statement. “We will continue making an effort for the reconstruction and stability of Iraq by cooperating with the international community,” said Koizumi, a close ally of US President George W Bush. In early December, Koizumi decided to extend Japan’s military presence in Iraq for another year despite public unease...