Free Republic

The two parties in the ruling coalition lost 19 seats in the upper house election which is similar to our U.S. Senate with 124 of 248 seats up for grabs every three years. These two parties are the LDP and Komeito. Liberal Democrat Party (LDP), which uses an elephant as its symbol, has ruled Japan for the vast majority of the postwar years. It still holds 100 seats and a strong plurality in the upper house. Komeito is a Buddhist fundamentalist party associated with the Sokka Gakkai sect, which is as annoying to some Japanese as Christian fundamentalist are to...

A gunman at an election rally in Nara ended the life of the longest-serving and one of the most popular prime ministers in Japanese history. On July 8, just before 6 PM, it was reported that former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had died, according to multiple sources and local media. Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Is Shot During a RallyThis is how the day unfolded.Very detailed account follows at the link>

In Japan's Upper House election, NHK projects Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's governing coalition will reach and could surpass the benchmark he set before the election, a majority of the contested seats or 61. NHK's decision desk also says the governing coalition, and 2 smaller parties in favor of changing the Constitution may reach a key number. The main ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its partner Komeito are projected to walk away with between 67 and 76 seats. That, combined with their uncontested seats, would mean they keep their majority in the chamber as a whole. NHK decision desk is also...