{"id":13341,"date":"2025-09-25T04:25:15","date_gmt":"2025-09-25T04:25:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/?p=13341"},"modified":"2025-09-29T04:40:08","modified_gmt":"2025-09-29T04:40:08","slug":"japanese-politics-updates-20250921","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/japanese-politics-updates-20250921\/","title":{"rendered":"Japanese Politics Updates &#8211; September 21, 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"13341\" class=\"elementor elementor-13341\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-45c1794c e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"45c1794c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/live\/krpk03Vx3ws?si=7QHit47bQu6bLPHx\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2e72a51 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"2e72a51\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-be862f4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"be862f4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/live\\\/krpk03Vx3ws?si=7QHit47bQu6bLPHx&quot;,&quot;show_image_overlay&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;image_overlay&quot;:{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/09\\\/2025-09-21-Japanese-politics-Thumbnail.png&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:13342,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;Japanese Politics Updates, Japanese Politics One-on-One #241&quot;,&quot;source&quot;:&quot;library&quot;},&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-video\"><\/div>\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-custom-embed-image-overlay\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/2025-09-21-Japanese-politics-Thumbnail.png);\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-custom-embed-play\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Play Video about Japanese Politics Updates, Japanese Politics One-on-One #241\" tabindex=\"0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-eicon-play\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 1000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M838 162C746 71 633 25 500 25 371 25 258 71 163 162 71 254 25 367 25 500 25 633 71 746 163 837 254 929 367 979 500 979 633 979 746 933 838 837 929 746 975 633 975 500 975 367 929 254 838 162M808 192C892 279 933 379 933 500 933 621 892 725 808 808 725 892 621 938 500 938 379 938 279 896 196 808 113 725 67 621 67 500 67 379 108 279 196 192 279 108 383 62 500 62 621 62 721 108 808 192M438 392V642L642 517 438 392Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-25e2e91c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"25e2e91c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Broadcast:<\/strong>\u00a0Sunday, September 21, 2025\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>Location:<\/strong>\u00a0Port of Misaki, Yokohama Peninsula\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Good morning and welcome to Episode 241, five years strong thanks to your engagement. Japan faces a high-stakes moment: a weakening yen pressures exporters, Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru sprints diplomatically before his mid-October exit, the LDP\u2019s presidential race locks in with five candidates, economic data shows mixed signals, and unrestricted defense exports signal a geopolitical shift amid global tensions. Today, we cover the yen, Nikkei, tariffs, LDP race, trade, defense, and world flashpoints, plus a lively Q&amp;A.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:heading --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-markets-amp-yen-weakness-bites-nbsp-nbsp\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Markets &amp; Yen: Weakness Bites\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><!-- \/wp:heading --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>The yen closed Friday at 147.51 to the dollar, down 0.2% week-on-week, near 2025\u2019s average of 148, its weakest in over two years. Structural pressures &#8211; BOJ\u2019s 0.5% rate hold (17-year high), U.S. rate differentials &#8211; drive volatility. Exporters like Toyota and Sony gain 5-7% on overseas sales, offsetting U.S. tariffs. But households and importers face 15% higher energy\/food costs, eroding wages and fueling election-year friction. BOJ\u2019s Ueda holds off hikes until post-LDP vote (October 4); watch October\u2019s CPI on the 16th. The Fed\u2019s September 5 jobs report signals a rate cut, pressuring the yen further. Nikkei dropped 2.5% Friday after BOJ\u2019s vote to unwind \u00a580 trillion ($537 billion) ETF holdings, selling \u00a5335 billion yearly, a \u201ccentury-long taper\u201d risking sell-offs. Expect \u00a5\/$147-150 until October 4; a dovish LDP winner could hit 152-155. Tariffs and Fed moves are wild cards. Show yen\/Nikkei chart.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:heading --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-diplomatically-ishiba-s-farewell-sprint-nbsp-nbsp\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Diplomatically: Ishiba\u2019s Farewell Sprint\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><!-- \/wp:heading --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Prime Minister Ishiba, resigning in a few weeks, will push Japan\u2019s \u201cfree and open Indo-Pacific\u201d agenda while guiding his successor\u2019s selection. Recent and upcoming moves include:\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:list --><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><!-- wp:list-item --><\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>September 5: Hosted Panama\u2019s President Mulino, inking $2 billion energy\/infrastructure MOUs to counter China\u2019s Belt and Road.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>September 19: Dined with Bahrain\u2019s Crown Prince Salman, securing 10-year LNG deals hedging 20% of Japan\u2019s energy imports.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>September 23-25: UN General Assembly in New York, keynoting the Summit of the Future on AI governance and climate tech, with U.S., EU, ASEAN side meetings on tariffs and $210 billion green funding needs.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>October: No further travel; focuses on handover post-October 4 LDP vote.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Cabinet steps up: Foreign Minister Iwaya signed U.S.-Japan Strategic Dialogue (September 9, cyber\/supply chains), co-chaired Japan-GCC talks ($15 billion ventures). Defense Minister Nakatani joined Bahrain for arms-tech deals; Economy Minister Akazawa prepped Panama on EV battery chains. Japan\u2019s \u201cquiet power\u201d holds amid LDP turmoil. Pause: How\u2019s Japan balancing global ties?\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:heading --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-ldp-leadership-race-five-contenders-koizumi-leads-nbsp-nbsp\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>LDP Leadership Race: Five Contenders, Koizumi Leads\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><!-- \/wp:heading --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Ishiba\u2019s September 7 resignation citing July\u2019s upper house loss, ignites the LDP presidential race, vote set for October 4. Five candidates declared by September 22: Sanae Takaichi (hawkish, 21%), Shinjiro Koizumi (reformist, 23.8%), Toshimitsu Motegi (trade veteran, 15%), Yoshimasa Hayashi (diplomacy pro, 15%), Takayuki Kobayashi (youth appeal, trailing). Jiji Press polls show Koizumi leading, Takaichi close. Runoff likely, with 370 parliamentary and 370 rank-and-file votes in round one; round two tilts to 370 Diet votes plus 47 prefectural votes. Kingmakers Kishida and Aso sway outcomes: Koizumi meets both, Takaichi courts Aso. Televised debates start September 22, with pressers (September 23, 24), Nagoya\/Osaka forums (September 26, October 2), and policy debate (September 30). LDP\u2019s minority needs Ishin or DPP coalition and this is a postwar first.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:heading --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-economy-trade-deficit-narrows-tariffs-loom-nbsp-nbsp\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Economy: Trade Deficit Narrows, Tariffs Loom\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><!-- \/wp:heading --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>August\u2019s trade deficit shrank to \u00a5242.5 billion ($1.66 billion), half July\u2019s \u00a5711 billion, beating the \u00a5514 billion forecast. Exports dipped 0.1% (autos resilient); imports fell 5% (due to an energy glut). Cumulative 2025 deficit: \u00a54 trillion, showing import reliance. U.S.-Japan deal (September 5) caps auto tariffs at 15%, but opens agriculture markets. BOJ\u2019s ETF unwind (\u00a580 trillion, $537 billion) sparks Nikkei volatility (down 2.5% Friday). Core CPI eased to 2.7% in August, perpetually above BOJ\u2019s 2% target, driven by food and energy; wages stall at 1.5%. Growth forecasts cut to 1.2% this fiscal year. Tariffs and Poland\u2019s Belarus border closure (September 19) disrupt China-Europe rail, hiking costs 20-30%. Tensions build rapidly.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:heading --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-defense-amp-geopolitics-arms-exports-surge-nbsp-nbsp\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Defense &amp; Geopolitics: Arms Exports Surge\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><!-- \/wp:heading --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Japan\u2019s 2022 policy shift allows unrestricted defense exports: $1 billion in drones to Australia, $800 million in missiles to Philippines. Defense Ministry urges \u00a550 trillion ($335 billion) over five years, boosting GDP 0.3%. Japan-South Korea meet (September 8) cements trilateral ties against North Korea\u2019s Hwasong-20 ICBM reveal, prepping for a Rubio-led three-way conclave. China\u2019s Senkaku incursions, Yarlung Tsangpo dam ($1.2 trillion), and Venezuela support escalate tensions. Poland\u2019s border closure freezes \u20ac25 billion China-Europe rail, snarling Japan\u2019s parts flows.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:heading --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-q-amp-a-preview-nbsp\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Q&amp;A Preview\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><!-- \/wp:heading --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Maya fielded these questions\u2014watch the replay on LinkedIn\/YouTube\/Clubhouse for insights:\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:list --><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><!-- wp:list-item --><\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Is Hayashi running a stealth campaign to emerge as a consensus LDP candidate?\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Could deep LDP divisions lead to a party split within two years?\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What happens if an Ishin-LDP coalition forms, and why the Brylcreem reference?\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Is Japan managing the yen-dollar exchange rate to stabilize it?\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Why are LDP candidates focused on family issues over urgent economic concerns?\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Why aren\u2019t more women running in the LDP presidential race?\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Tune in for the full dialogue above!\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:heading --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-in-conclusion\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><!-- \/wp:heading --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Japan is at a crossroads: yen pressures, LDP flux, and global tensions demand heightened focus. Your engagement, JapanHands, fuels this weekly briefing. Please Comment, Like and Share with colleagues, friends, anyone curious about Japan\u2019s pulse &#8211; it\u2019s our gift to you. See you next Sunday!<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-97aaddd e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"97aaddd\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-955bbaf elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"955bbaf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-11ca5fe e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"11ca5fe\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5d221ce elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5d221ce\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>Are you familiar with \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLdFBN0Nedy2yMBKgkglb1AE_GWdKBNZUn\">Tokyo on Fire<\/a>\u201d? Episodes are available on YouTube \u201cLangley Esquire\u201d: excruciatingly-gained insights sifted over 40 years in-country! Entertainingly presented.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLD_K55pXIzjVDaktKOW32EkBCaACZz7gH\">Japanese Politics One-on-One<\/a>\u201d episodes are on YouTube \u201cJapan Expert Insights\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>If you gain insight from these briefings, consider a tailored one for your Executive Team or for passing-through-Tokyo heavyweights.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>To learn more about advocacy in Japan, read our article \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/the-dynamics-of-lobbying-in-japan\/\">Understanding the Dynamics of Lobbying in Japan<\/a>.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e0457a2 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"e0457a2\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f4341f0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-template\" data-id=\"f4341f0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"template.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-template\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"section\" data-elementor-id=\"7923\" class=\"elementor elementor-7923\" data-elementor-post-type=\"elementor_library\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2827954c elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2827954c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-249c62ad\" data-id=\"249c62ad\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7245daef elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7245daef\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Join the Success!<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1ec08f77 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1ec08f77\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p1\">Experience exceptional, personalized solutions designed to meet your business&#8217;s specific needs. Discover how we can elevate your operations to the next level.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-71100ba3 elementor-align-center elementor-mobile-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"71100ba3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-lg elementor-animation-grow\" href=\"\/contact\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-envelope\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M502.3 190.8c3.9-3.1 9.7-.2 9.7 4.7V400c0 26.5-21.5 48-48 48H48c-26.5 0-48-21.5-48-48V195.6c0-5 5.7-7.8 9.7-4.7 22.4 17.4 52.1 39.5 154.1 113.6 21.1 15.4 56.7 47.8 92.2 47.6 35.7.3 72-32.8 92.3-47.6 102-74.1 131.6-96.3 154-113.7zM256 320c23.2.4 56.6-29.2 73.4-41.4 132.7-96.3 142.8-104.7 173.4-128.7 5.8-4.5 9.2-11.5 9.2-18.9v-19c0-26.5-21.5-48-48-48H48C21.5 64 0 85.5 0 112v19c0 7.4 3.4 14.3 9.2 18.9 30.6 23.9 40.7 32.4 173.4 128.7 16.8 12.2 50.2 41.8 73.4 41.4z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">CONTACT US<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/live\/krpk03Vx3ws?si=7QHit47bQu6bLPHx Broadcast:\u00a0Sunday, September 21, 2025\u00a0\u00a0 Location:\u00a0Port of Misaki, Yokohama Peninsula\u00a0\u00a0 Good morning and welcome to Episode 241, five years strong thanks to your engagement. Japan faces a high-stakes moment: a weakening yen pressures exporters, Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru sprints diplomatically before his mid-October exit, the LDP\u2019s presidential race locks in with five candidates, economic data [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":13342,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[255],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13341","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.3 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Japanese Politics Updates - September 21, 2025 - Langley Esquire Government Relations &amp; 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