#Ishiba Shigeru

[radioshiga]

Primeiro-ministro do Japão promete revitalizar comunidades regionais

Tóquio, Japão, 1 de janeiro de 2025 — NHK News – O primeiro-ministro do Japão, Ishiba Shigeru, iniciou o ano com uma mensagem otimista à nação, comprometendo-se a revitalizar comunidades regionais e combater o declínio populacional, que ele descreveu como uma ameaça direta à vitalidade econômica e social do país. Ishiba afirmou que o declínio populacional tem gerado impactos severos nas economias…

[unitedventurez]

Japan's Ruling Party Elects Shigeru Ishiba as New Leader Amid Scandals

In a significant leadership change, Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has elected Shigeru Ishiba as its new leader, positioning him to become the next prime minister. Ishiba, 67, a former defense chief, has vowed to reform the party, revitalize the economy, and enhance national security after winning the party election on Friday.

With the LDP holding a parliamentary majority, Ishiba is set to be appointed prime minister on Tuesday. His election comes at a challenging time for the party, which has been mired in scandals and internal strife that have weakened its previously dominant factions.

Nine candidates competed for the leadership following Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's announcement last month that he would not seek re-election. Ishiba led in opinion polls, marking his fifth attempt to lead the party. He faced off against Sanae Takaichi, 63, who aimed to become Japan's first female leader.

In his acceptance speech, Ishiba emphasized the need for transparency and humility within the party. He supports allowing female emperors—a contentious issue within the LDP—and has been outspoken in his criticism of Kishida, which has both frustrated party insiders and resonated with the public.

Ishiba has called for strengthened security measures in light of increasing incursions from Russia and China, as well as North Korea’s missile activities. However, his leadership does not represent a complete overhaul for a party seeking to regain public trust amid a stagnant economy and ongoing political scandals. His economic strategy focuses on raising wages to combat inflation.

Takaichi, a conservative and ally of the late former prime minister Shinzo Abe, advocates traditional roles for women and opposes reforms regarding female succession in the imperial family.

The LDP’s leadership contest reflects a broader need for reform as the party seeks to recover from plummeting approval ratings and public dissatisfaction. Scandals involving the Unification Church’s influence on the LDP and underreported political funding have intensified scrutiny, resulting in the disbanding of several party factions.

Japan faces pressing economic challenges, with rising food prices and stagnant wages contributing to public discontent. The OECD reports that wages have seen minimal growth over the past 30 years, while inflation is at a 30-year high, straining households.

Ishiba’s administration will also need to address Japan's aging and declining population, which poses significant challenges for social services and the workforce. The LDP’s next steps will be critical ahead of the general election scheduled for October 2025, with some candidates suggesting a possible early election.

As the party navigates these turbulent waters, the recent leadership election is viewed as a critical test not only for the LDP but for the future of conservative politics in Japan.

[head-post]

China, Japan foreign ministers meet in Beijing, bilateral relations on agenda

Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya will visit China on Wednesday for talks with local counterpart Wang Yi in a bid to bring about positive developments in bilateral relations.

Earlier, Iwaya met with Premier Li Qiang of China’s State Council before beginning his talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. After that, Iwaya is scheduled to attend an event on cultural and humanitarian exchanges between the two countries.

This is Iwaya’s first visit as Japanese foreign minister to China. Earlier, Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi visited the People’s Republic of China in April 2023.

Last November, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japan’s new Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba met on the margins of the APEC summit in Peru. At the time, Xi Jinping said the countries were “in a crucial period to improve and develop ties.” The leaders agreed to hold reciprocal visits by the countries’ foreign ministers and promote mutually beneficial and stable relations.

Relations between Japan and China are complicated by a territorial dispute over the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea controlled by Tokyo, with Chinese ships periodically passing near the islands. Beijing also imposed a ban on Japanese seafood after Japan began discharging water in August 2023 that was used to cool reactors at the March 2011 earthquake-hit Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

However, in September 2024, Beijing and Tokyo agreed that Chinese authorities would begin to gradually lift the ban and China would take part in IAEA-led monitoring of the water discharge process.

Read more HERE

[gurutrends]

Japanese PM Shigeru Ishiba re-elected after runoff vote

Shigeru Ishiba, the leader of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), has secured a new term as the country’s prime minister after a parliamentary vote on Monday. Ishiba, 67, was first sworn in as prime minister in September after his predecessor, Fumio Kishida, stepped down amid a series of scandals that rattled public trust in the LDP. Ahead of the special parliamentary session on…

[bhaskarlive]

Japanese PM Ishiba’s cabinet resigns ahead of parliament vote

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba resigned with his cabinet on Monday ahead of a parliament vote later the day to select the country’s next prime minister following the general election last month.

Source: bhaskarlive.in

[paknewsinsightspk]

Japan's ruling party headquarters attacked with firebombs, suspect arrested

TOKYO (AP) — A man threw several firebombs into the headquarters of Japan’s ruling party in Tokyo Saturday, then crashed his car into the fencing of the prime minister’s residence, Tokyo police said. There were no reports of injuries. The man, identified by police as Atsunobu Usuda, 49, was arrested on the spot on charges of obstructing the performance of official duties, although additional…

[todayworldnews2k21]

Ishiba reiterates need for nuclear deterrence despite group's Nobel Prize

A day after the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to a grassroots group of Hiroshima and Nagasaki survivors pushing for a nuclear weapons ban, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Saturday reiterated his view that nuclear deterrence is needed in an increasingly fraught security environment. “I want to make sure that something like (the Hiroshima or Nagasaki bombings) never happens again,” Ishiba said in…

[oknews]

El nuevo marco de seguridad de Japón bajo Shigeru Ishiba

[uniqueeval]

Here’s why Japan’s stocks are plunging after Shigeru Ishiba’s win

Skyline of Tokyo, Japan. Jackyenjoyphotography | Moment | Getty Images Japan’s Nikkei 225 tumbled over 4% on Monday, following a mixed set of economic data out of Japan and as traders reacted to the election of incoming Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Japan’s August retail sales climbed 2.8% year on year, beating Reuters poll estimates of a 2.3% rise, and up from a revised 2.7% rise in…

[rightnewshindi]

पूर्व रक्षा मंत्री शिगेरु इशिबा होंगे जापान के अगले प्रधानमंत्री, फुमियो किशिदा की लेंगे जगह

#News पूर्व रक्षा मंत्री शिगेरु इशिबा होंगे जापान के अगले प्रधानमंत्री, फुमियो किशिदा की लें��े जगह

Japan Shigeru Ishiba: जापान में बदलाव हुआ है। जापान की सत्तारूढ़ पार्टी ने पूर्व रक्षा मंत्री शिगेरु इशिबा को अपना नेता चुना है। वे अगले सप्ताह प्रधानमंत्री बनेंगे। वे फुमियो किशिदा की जगह अगले प्रधानमंत्री बनेंगे। संसद में लिबरल डेमोक्रेटिक पार्टी (एलडीपी) का सत्तारूढ़ गठबंधन है। पार्टी का नेता चुना जाना प्रधानमंत्री पद का टिकट है, क्योंकि संसद में वर्तमान में ‘लिबरल डेमोक्रेटिक पार्टी’ के…

[radioshiga]

Reunião entre Ishiba e Trump deve ocorrer após posse

Tóquio, Japão, 31 de dezembro de 2024 (NHK) – A reunião entre o primeiro-ministro japonês, Ishiba Shigeru, e o presidente eleito dos Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, não deve acontecer antes da posse de Trump, marcada para o dia 20 de janeiro. O governo japonês está discutindo as melhores datas para que o encontro aconteça logo após a posse. A equipe de Trump havia sugerido uma reunião no meio de…

[oeditordomundo]

Ishiba é o novo premiê japonês até segundq ordem

Japão tem um novo premiê. O LDP elegeu o ex-ministro da defesa Shigeru Ishiba para ser o líder do partido. Seu nome foi aprovado em votação do Dieta, a câmara baixa do parlamento japonês. Pelo jeito, a democracia japonesa nunca fica no tédio.

[head-post]

BoJ could face challenges in raising interest rate

Although Japan managed to get companies to raise wages, the uneven corporate wage burden complicated the Bank of Japan’s (BoJ) plans to raise interest rates, according to Reuters.

Japan’s small businesses spend far more of their profits on wages than their larger counterparts. Meanwhile, the outlook for wages next year is critical to sustaining a consumption-driven economic recovery.

Policy makers are now considering whether smaller firms, which employ 70% of Japan’s labour force, can continue to meet such wage demands. Concerns over sustained wage growth, combined with threats of higher tariffs from US President-elect Donald Trump, could prompt the BoJ to postpone an interest rate hike at next week’s meeting.

Wages in Japan remained stagnant for decades until 2022, when rising commodity prices drove up inflation and increased pressure on companies to pay employees higher wages. While large companies are already signalling a willingness to continue raising salaries to attract talent, there is uncertainty over whether smaller companies will be able to follow suit.

Small and midsized enterprises (SMEs) spend about 70% of their profits on wage costs, much higher than about 40 % for large firms. BoJ board member Toyoaki Nakamura expressed concern about the growing gap between large or fast-growing firms being able to raise wages and most SMEs struggling to do so.

This will also damage Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s already low ratings, as the cost-of-living hike will hurt households, many of whom have yet to see sufficient wage increases. As part of efforts to support pay across the country, Ishiba pledged to unveil a plan by next spring to raise Japan’s minimum wage by 42% by the end of the decade.

Small companies with fewer than 300 employees have agreed to raise wages by 4.45% this year, lower than the 5.19% at large companies, according to a survey by labour union group Rengo.

Read more HERE

[queen-boudicca]

[image description: text that says "TOKYO, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Shigeru Ishiba, the newly elected Liberal Democratic Party leader poised to become Japan's new prime minister, often appears in photos with a furrowed brow, but his expression immediately clears when he talks about one of his true loves - plastic models." /End id]

If you told me that Japan's new PM was going to be a guy with a model train special interest a month ago I would not have believed you

[captain-price-unofficially]

Meet Shigeru Ishiba, the man who just won the LDP candidacy and is likely to become Japan's next Prime Minister

[mariacallous]

As Japan’s newly elected prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, composes his cabinet, one position remains conspicuously vacant: Minister for Economic Cooperation with Russia. Moscow has noticed, with Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Maria Zakharova saying plainly, “If Japan closes ties, we will look for other partners.” Ishiba’s move signals a continued, and potentially more assertive, departure from the brief period of improvement of relations that Tokyo and Moscow enjoyed under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the late 2010s. This has since been interrupted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The fact that Ishiba has been sanctioned by Moscow since 2022 does not help matters.

Created in 2016 under Abe, the Minister for Economic Cooperation with Russia has traditionally been held by Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry. It was occupied through Prime Minister Kishida’s tenure, despite calls from lawmakers in both Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and opposition parties to abolish the title. Although largely symbolic, the position’s inception rests in the broader eight-point plan of economic cooperation presented by Abe to Vladimir Putin during the 2016 Russia-Japan Summit in Sochi. The plan was a notable step toward improving relations that had been inflamed following Russia’s invasion of Crimea and eastern Ukraine. This triggered a slew of retaliatory measures by Japan, including the freezing of agreements on investment, visas, and security.

Beyond moving to improve economic relations, the summit eased tensions surrounding Japan’s Northern Territories, the contested Kuril Islands claimed by Japan but administered by Russia since the Soviet occupation during World War II. The Russian program allowing visa-free access to the islands by its former Japanese residents was expanded, and more Japanese citizens were allowed access to visit the graves of their family members, a point of domestic political contention in Tokyo that Ishiba highlighted during his campaign.

The progress on the issue of the Northern Territories supported efforts for the establishment of a peace treaty between Moscow and Tokyo, which would formally end post-World War II hostilities and settle the issue of the sovereignty of the islands. Although no treaty was signed as a result of Abe’s efforts, Russia-Japan trade and visits to the Northern Territories continued mostly unimpeded until Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, despite several minor diplomatic rows.

Under Prime Minister Kishida, Japan joined the West’s sanctions regime against Russia, triggering a major diplomatic fallout between Moscow and Tokyo. Within a month of the invasion, Russia suspended all talks relating to a peace treaty with Japan. It halted visa-free access for former Japanese residents of the Northern Territories, alongside disruptions to trade due to sanctions and Japan’s downgrading of Russia’s ‘most favored nation’ status.

Although not wholly indicative of Russia’s diplomatic posture, former Russian president turned deputy chairman of Russia’s National Security Council Dmitry Medvedev proclaimed that the issue of the Northern Territories was “closed once and for all” and that those upset in Japan should “end their life in the traditional Japanese way, by committing seppuku.”

The growing division in Russia-Japan relations was accompanied by stronger bilateral relations between the United States and Japan, as the two countries pledged several new points of cooperation during Kishida’s state visit in April. Notably, both countries enhanced their defense partnership by agreeing to upgrade and modernize their Command and Control systems, including the long-awaited establishment of the Japan Self-Defense Forces Joint Operations Command. This new command structure aims to unify and oversee all SDF joint operations, complementing the restructured Joint Force Headquarters with US Forces Japan. The two countries also recently established the Defense Industrial Cooperation, Acquisition, and Sustainment Forum, which enables U.S. and Japanese officials and business leaders to discuss areas for closer industrial cooperation.

In addition to stronger bilateral defense ties, Japan has also increased its multilateral engagement with NATO. Since the 2022 NATO summit in Madrid, Kishida has participated in every successive NATO summit to identify areas of mutual security interests. Most recently, following the 2024 NATO Summit in Washington, DC, NATO and Japan agreed to enhance cooperation in cyber defense, emerging technologies, maritime security, and resilience under the Individually Tailored Partnership Programme.

Ishiba took an aggressive posture toward Moscow during his campaign to become the leader of the LDP in September. He articulated his foreign policy vision in comments to the Hudson Institute, recognizing a growing partnership between Pyongyang and Moscow and emphasizing the need for new methods of deterrence against Russia, China, and North Korea. Additionally, in response to several incursions by Russian aircraft last week, Ishiba proposed amending Japanese law to allow Japan’s Self-Defense Forces to fire on aircraft violating Japanese airspace.

During his security-heavy inaugural policy speech to the Japanese Diet this week, Ishiba referenced Russia’s airspace violation, calling it a “serious violation” of Japanese sovereignty. He also committed to continuing Japan’s sanctions regime against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, echoing earlier statements made by his newly appointed foreign minister.

While recognizing that Japan-Russia relations are tense, Ishiba pledged to continue aiming for a Russia-Japan peace treaty and to resolve the issue of the sovereignty of the Northern Territories. However, as Zakharova’s comments highlight, continued negotiations are unlikely to occur as long as Japan maintains sanctions.

With all indicators pointing to, at minimum, a continuation of the tense diplomatic status quo between Russia and Japan, Ishiba is unlikely to reverse the Kishida administration’s course as long as the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues. His aspirations for a stronger Japanese defense, including the implication of greater deterrence against Russia, indicate further agitation in Moscow as Japanese cooperation with the United States and NATO continues to grow.

Just days into his administration, Ishiba has already drawn the ire of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs—and it likely will not be the last time.