Taro Aso
Ban says climate inaction 'inexcusable'
UN chief Ban Ki-moon has opened a climate summit warning that failure to reach a new treaty on fighting global warming would be "inexcusable."
Japan's incoming govt hails 'new dawn'
Kyoko Hasegawa Japan's incoming prime minister has hailed a new dawn as he finalised the cabinet line-up tasked with reviving the world's second largest economy.
Japan's new PM Hatoyama takes charge
Hiroshi Hiyama Japan's new centre-left Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has taken power in a fresh start for Asia's top economy - previously under conservative rule for decades.
Japan's new PM, cabinet to take power
Japan's new centre-left government is due to take power on Wednesday in a fresh start for Asia's top economy, which has been under conservative rule for almost all of the post-war era.
Japan's next PM to slash emissions, name cabinet
Shingo Ito Japan's next prime minister on Monday vowed tough greenhouse gas cuts for the world's number two economy as he prepared to name key cabinet posts ahead of taking power next week.
Dispute slows Japan coalition talks
Kyoko Hasegawa Japan's incoming prime minister said Tuesday he was confident coalition talks on forming a new government would be complete within the day, despite differences on defence and history.
Japan's jobless rate hits record high
Shingo Ito Japan's unemployment rate is at a record high, data showed Friday, raising doubts about an economic recovery and piling pressure on embattled Prime Minister Taro Aso two days ahead of an election.
Japanese leaders face crucial elections
Eric Talmadge Japan's top political leaders took their appeals directly to the voters across the country on Friday ahead of crucial parliamentary elections.
Japan's jobless rate hits record high
Shingo Ito Japan on Friday announced its jobless rate hit a record high last month, raising doubts about prospects for an economic recovery and dealing a blow to Prime Minister Taro Aso ahead of a weekend...
Political warfare grandfathered by blood
Hamish McDonald Herald Correspondent in Tokyo AS PRIME Minister Taro Aso's electoral prospects sunk ever lower, the mood of sweeping change will not sever Japan's famous political bloodlines.
Japan set for a shock
In 1705 a rumour swept through the towns and villages of Japan: if you travelled to the shrine of the sun-goddess Amaterasu in Ise, your life would be transformed for the better.
Japan election expected to break mould
Shingo Ito Japan is gearing up for a landmark election that will likely end half a century of almost unbroken conservative rule.
Japan oppn wins election - exit polls
Japanese voters swept to power an untested centre-left party in an electoral avalanche, according to exit polls.
Japan centre-left sweeps to power in landslide win
Miwa Suzuki Japanese voters swept to power an untested centre-left party Sunday in an electoral avalanche that ended more than half a century of almost unbroken conservative rule, according to media projections.
It's in the blood: brothers set to be nation's political rivals
TOKYO: They are brothers in a famous political dynasty. One is known as ‘‘ET’’ or ‘‘the Alien’’. The other has been called ‘‘the Grim Reaper’’.
Crushing end to postwar era: LDP swept from office
Hamish McDonald JAPANESE voters have swept the conservative government of the Prime Minister, Taro Aso, from office, early counting and exit polls from yesterday's election showed.
Great expectations for Japan's victorious Democrats
Hiroshi Hiyama Japan's Democratic Party Monday began talks on forming a new government, facing the tasks of reviving the struggling economy and reshaping ties with key world allies after its crushing election win.
Japan's Democrats start forming govt
Hiroshi Hiyama Japan's Democratic Party has begun talks on forming a new government, faced with the challenge of reviving the economy and reshaping ties with key allies.
Japan's victorious Democrats start forming government
Hiroshi Hiyama Japan's Democratic Party began talks on Monday on forming a new government, faced with the challenge of reviving the economy and reshaping ties with key allies after its crushing election win.
Rural vote swings it for Japan's new leader
Hamish McDonald Asia-Pacific Editor in Tokyo JAPAN'S people woke to a transformed political landscape yesterday with the certainties of the past half-century swept aside and an inexperienced election winner facing up to a daunting power...
