{"id":4857,"date":"2021-03-11T08:08:16","date_gmt":"2021-03-11T08:08:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/?p=4857"},"modified":"2021-03-13T04:19:47","modified_gmt":"2021-03-13T04:19:47","slug":"japan-politics-now-march-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/japan-politics-now-march-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"Japan Politics Now &#8211; March 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"4857\" class=\"elementor elementor-4857\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4f25e7c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4f25e7c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2672c81\" data-id=\"2672c81\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\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-d55bdeb elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"d55bdeb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"402\" src=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/MicrosoftTeams-image-768x402.png\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-4864\" alt=\"Japan Politics Now\" srcset=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/MicrosoftTeams-image-768x402.png 768w, https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/MicrosoftTeams-image-300x157.png 300w, https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/MicrosoftTeams-image.png 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\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-92e6af0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"92e6af0\" 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<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><i>March 2021<\/i><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9b45086 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9b45086\" 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>As Japan\u2019s premier public affairs firm, Langley Esquire continuously monitors both policy and political developments to best serve our clients. We wanted to share a succinct summary of these developments and their significance with the public to help spread understanding of Japanese politics. In <em>Japan Politics Now<\/em>, our new monthly newsletter, we aim to bring you Japan\u2019s latest political developments, both foreign and domestic, and explain in brief why they matter.<\/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-5d68066 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"5d68066\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\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<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e17eb73 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e17eb73\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-827b622\" data-id=\"827b622\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6f2ce17\" data-id=\"6f2ce17\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\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-56e8c14 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"56e8c14\" 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\">Want to Stay Informed?<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d988277 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d988277\" 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>Sign up for monthly updates on the latest political developments impacting your industry in Japan:<\/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-50ca16a elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"50ca16a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Begin Mailchimp Signup Form -->\n<link href=\"\/\/cdn-images.mailchimp.com\/embedcode\/classic-10_7.css\" rel=\"stylesheet\" type=\"text\/css\">\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t#mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Georgia,Georgia,Georgia; }\n\t\/* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block.\n\t   We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. *\/\n<\/style>\n<div id=\"mc_embed_signup\">\n<form action=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.us7.list-manage.com\/subscribe\/post?u=954360333b636e024b53d2772&amp;id=88fae57ba5\" method=\"post\" id=\"mc-embedded-subscribe-form\" name=\"mc-embedded-subscribe-form\" class=\"validate\" target=\"_blank\" novalidate>\n    <div id=\"mc_embed_signup_scroll\">\n\t<h2>Subscribe<\/h2>\n<div class=\"indicates-required\"><span class=\"asterisk\">*<\/span> indicates required<\/div>\n<div class=\"mc-field-group\">\n\t<label for=\"mce-EMAIL\">Email Address  <span class=\"asterisk\">*<\/span>\n<\/label>\n\t<input type=\"email\" value=\"\" name=\"EMAIL\" class=\"required email\" id=\"mce-EMAIL\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mc-field-group\">\n\t<label for=\"mce-FNAME\">First Name  <span class=\"asterisk\">*<\/span>\n<\/label>\n\t<input type=\"text\" value=\"\" name=\"FNAME\" class=\"required\" id=\"mce-FNAME\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mc-field-group\">\n\t<label for=\"mce-LNAME\">Last Name  <span class=\"asterisk\">*<\/span>\n<\/label>\n\t<input type=\"text\" value=\"\" name=\"LNAME\" class=\"required\" id=\"mce-LNAME\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mc-field-group\">\n\t<label for=\"mce-MMERGE6\">Industry  <span class=\"asterisk\">*<\/span>\n<\/label>\n\t<input type=\"text\" value=\"\" name=\"MMERGE6\" class=\"required\" id=\"mce-MMERGE6\">\n<\/div>\n\t<div id=\"mce-responses\" class=\"clear\">\n\t\t<div class=\"response\" id=\"mce-error-response\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"response\" id=\"mce-success-response\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>    <!-- real people should not fill this in and expect good things - do not remove this or risk form bot signups-->\n    <div style=\"position: absolute; left: -5000px;\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><input type=\"text\" name=\"b_954360333b636e024b53d2772_88fae57ba5\" tabindex=\"-1\" value=\"\"><\/div>\n    <div class=\"clear\"><input type=\"submit\" value=\"Subscribe\" name=\"subscribe\" id=\"mc-embedded-subscribe\" class=\"button\"><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/form>\n<\/div>\n<script type='text\/javascript' src='\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/downloads.mailchimp.com\/js\/mc-validate.js'><\/script><script type='text\/javascript'>(function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]='EMAIL';ftypes[0]='email';fnames[1]='FNAME';ftypes[1]='text';fnames[2]='LNAME';ftypes[2]='text';fnames[6]='MMERGE6';ftypes[6]='text';fnames[5]='MMERGE5';ftypes[5]='text';fnames[7]='MMERGE7';ftypes[7]='text';fnames[3]='ADDRESS';ftypes[3]='address';fnames[4]='PHONE';ftypes[4]='phone';}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true);<\/script>\n<!--End mc_embed_signup-->\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1a0343c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1a0343c\" 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><a href=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/privacy-policy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Privacy Policy<\/a><\/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<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-003244d\" data-id=\"003244d\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\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<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-30d3732 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"30d3732\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-af6e89c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"af6e89c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-17d9cce\" data-id=\"17d9cce\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\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-1ec02df elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1ec02df\" 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<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><b><u>Domestic Politics:<\/u><\/b><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f6e67ec elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"f6e67ec\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cf1e01b elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"cf1e01b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"564\" src=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/EsA_4GWXcAM5fBV-768x564.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-4866\" alt=\"Prime Minister Diet\" srcset=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/EsA_4GWXcAM5fBV-768x564.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/EsA_4GWXcAM5fBV-300x220.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/EsA_4GWXcAM5fBV-scaled.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/EsA_4GWXcAM5fBV-1536x1127.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">\u00a9 Prime Minister Suga - https:\/\/www.kantei.go.jp\/<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\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-7535200 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7535200\" 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\">Suga Under Fire Over Son\u2019s Dinners with Government Officials<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-67e1dd6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"67e1dd6\" 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>Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide is facing growing criticism over what could turn into the first major scandal of his administration. Suga\u2019s eldest son, who works at a television company, spent thousands of dollars on dinners with government officials from the Communications Ministry. Meals like this between companies and their regulators are prohibited. Multiple ministry officials are facing punishment for joining the dinners.<\/p><p>Suga apologized in the Diet for his son\u2019s involvement, but the opposition has continued to press the issue. As they did with scandals during the Abe administration, the opposition will do everything they can to keep the issue in the media spotlight. To that end they have called for Suga\u2019s son to testify in parliament.<\/p><p>Scandals such as this, which involve the appearance of influence-peddling by people closely related to highly placed officials, can severely damage the premier\u2019s standing. Abe Shinzo\u2019s political agenda was significantly frustrated by the Moritomo Gakuen scandal, which involved allegations of financial improprieties on the part of his wife. Suga risks facing similar circumstances, in which he will be forced to use all of his political capital to fend off allegations of wrongdoing.<\/p><p>To complicate matters, the longevity of the Suga administration is already in question. The Cabinet\u2019s support rate has plummeted over dissatisfaction with the government\u2019s response to the coronavirus pandemic, and some observers question whether Suga will be able to prevail in the next leadership election in the Liberal Democratic Party in autumn. If Suga\u2019s approval rate falls further because of these dinners, it may be enough to ensure that his administration ends after one year.<\/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-0c26a38 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"0c26a38\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bc2ed36 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"bc2ed36\" 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\">Turmoil in the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4e8af7b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4e8af7b\" 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>Former Prime Minister Mori Yoshiro in February stepped down as chair of the organizing committee for the Tokyo Summer Olympics after discriminatory comments he made about women came to light. Officials in the Suga administration avoided pushing on Mori, but his position became untenable after Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko said she would not meet with him because of the remarks. Ultimately Hashimoto Seiko, an LDP lawmaker and the Suga Cabinet\u2019s Olympics minister, was chosen as the next committee chair. Hashimoto left the LDP to keep the games politically neutral.<\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"color: #b31b1b;\">Langley Insight<\/span>:<\/i> The success or failure of the Olympics will have major political ramifications for the Suga administration. Opinion polls indicate the drop in the Cabinet\u2019s support rate has bottomed out, and a Summer Games free of incidents &#8212; even one with restrictions on fans and spectators in place &#8212; could lift the administration\u2019s popularity if COVID-19 infection numbers continue to fall. In contrast, if COVID-19 clusters emerge at the games, the government will face criticism for taking inadequate precautions. The Games could also make or break the career of Hashimoto, who is now responsible for ensuring they run safely and smoothly.<\/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-7f8b9ea elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7f8b9ea\" 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\">Former PM Noda Says JCP Cannot Join New Government<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-feb993e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"feb993e\" 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>Former Prime Minister Noda Yoshihiko (CDP), a member of the conservative wing of the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party, indicated on February 16 that it would be difficult to include the Japan Communist Party in a new government. The JCP has said that it wants to form a unified opposition against the LDP.<\/p><p><i><span style=\"color: #b31b1b;\">Langley Insight<\/span>:<\/i> Coordination among the opposition parties is critical to unseating vulnerable LDP candidates. If the JCP fields its own contenders in competitive electoral districts, the anti-LDP vote can end up split among several opposition candidates, ending any chance of an opposition victory as only the candidate with a plurality of votes wins in single-member constituencies. Opposition to the JCP from conservatives within the opposition will likely make JCP supporters less inclined to work with other opposition parties and make coordination more difficult.<\/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-f52db28 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f52db28\" 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\">LDP Lawmaker Leaves Party After Violating Emergency Declaration<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b534871 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b534871\" 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>Shirasuka Takaki, a three-term lower house member from Chiba Prefecture, left the LDP and announced he would not run again in the next lower house election. Shukan Bunshun reported that Shirasuka visited a restaurant in Tokyo after 8 p.m., despite the declared state of emergency. The government has asked Tokyo residents to avoid unnecessary travel after 8 p.m. while the declaration is in effect.<\/p><p><i><span style=\"color: #b31b1b;\">Langley Insight<\/span>:<\/i> Shirasuka is not the first lawmaker to be criticized for violating the government\u2019s guidelines. Suga and LDP Secretary-General Nikai Toshihiro were both criticized after attending a dinner with other lawmakers, and in January lawmakers Matsumoto Jun and Toyama Kiyohiko both faced intense pushback after going to a hostess bar. Matsumoto quit the LDP, and Toyama resigned as a lawmaker. High-level officials who act as if they were above their own guidelines do not sit well with the public, and further such incidents risk making the LDP appear aloof and out-of-touch.<\/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-5fb7595 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5fb7595\" 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\">Kawai Anri Resigns as Lawmaker After Bribery Conviction<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8d72e8c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8d72e8c\" 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>Kawai Anri, previously an LDP upper house lawmaker, resigned from the Diet on February 3 after she was found guilty of bribing local politicians for votes. A by-election to choose the successor for her Hiroshima constituency will be held on April 25.<\/p><p><i><span style=\"color: #b31b1b;\">Langley Insight<\/span>:<\/i> Kawai\u2019s husband, Kawai Katsuyuki, is a member of the lower house and a former justice minister who has also been indicted for election law violations. The couple are close to both Suga and Abe. Although Kawai Anri\u2019s case has faded from recent media discussions, a development in Kawai Katsuyuki\u2019s case could thrust the couple back to the forefront of public discussion and damage Suga\u2019s support. Moreover, the April 25 special election to replace Kawai Anri\u2019s seat will prove a crucial test of Suga\u2019s ability to get LDP candidates elected.<\/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-e663685 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e663685\" 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<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><b><u>Foreign Affairs:<\/u><\/b><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-72d285b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"72d285b\" 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\">Chinese Coast Guard Ships Enter Senkaku Waters After New Weapons Law<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-80afbb7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"80afbb7\" 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>China Coast Guard vessels have repeatedly entered territorial waters claimed by Japan around the disputed Senkaku Islands. Though the intrusions are not new, Japanese authorities are on high alert since China passed a new law that permits its coast guard, a quasi-military organization, broader remit to use its weapons.<\/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-80caa04 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"80caa04\" 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\"><b>LDP Lawmakers Call for Japan\u2019s own \u2018Taiwan Relations Act\u2019<\/b><\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2b56aab elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2b56aab\" 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>A group of LDP lawmakers is pushing for stronger relations with Taiwan, including possible legislation to govern the relationship. Lawmakers also floated the idea of a 2-plus-2 meeting between the Japanese and Taiwanese foreign and defense ministers. The LDP has also set up a new project team to focus on relations with Taiwan. The team is composed of lawmakers from different factions within the party, including those that are normally more friendly toward Beijing.<\/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-8eb31ae elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8eb31ae\" 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\"><b>Japan and U.S. Agree to 1-Year Cost Sharing Deal for Hosting U.S. Troops<\/b><\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1ff1360 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1ff1360\" 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>Tokyo and Washington agreed to keep Japan\u2019s host-nation support at about the same level for the fiscal year that ends March 2022, meaning Japan will pay about 201.7 billion yen ($1.9 billion). Former President Donald Trump had said that he wanted Japan to pay significantly more to keep U.S. forces stationed there.<\/p><p><i><span style=\"color: #b31b1b;\">Langley Insight<\/span>:<\/i> The one-year agreement will buy both sides time to negotiate a longer-term deal, but there is little doubt that the U.S. will ask Japan to play an increasingly active role in regional security. Japanese policymakers have generally moved in this direction, indicating a desire to work with the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance and to be more active in space security. However, they will have to win over a general public that is reluctant to spend more significant amounts on taxpayers funds on defense.<\/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-ab2b607 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"ab2b607\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-04633c1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"04633c1\" 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<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><b><u>NHK Polling:<\/u><\/b><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d6ea833 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"d6ea833\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2dc55c5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2dc55c5\" 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>Cabinet: 40% support (+2pp), 37% do not support (-7pp)<br \/>Parties: LDP 35.6%, CDP 4.5%, Komeito 3.2%, Isshin 2.1%, JCP 3.1%, DPP 0.8%<\/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-63fd552 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"63fd552\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"607\" src=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Capture-de\u0301cran-0003-03-11-a\u0300-17.35.43-1024x607.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4860\" alt=\"NHK Polls March\" srcset=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Capture-de\u0301cran-0003-03-11-a\u0300-17.35.43.png 1024w, https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Capture-de\u0301cran-0003-03-11-a\u0300-17.35.43-300x178.png 300w, https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Capture-de\u0301cran-0003-03-11-a\u0300-17.35.43-768x455.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\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-a6c5787 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"a6c5787\" 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<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-19ed7fb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"19ed7fb\" 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>Langley Esquire provides a full range of<a href=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/government-affairs\/\"> government &amp; public affairs consulting services<\/a>, including policy &amp; media monitoring, stakeholder mapping, strategic communications, procurement and government relations. 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elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c47609a elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"c47609a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1969452 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"1969452\" 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<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0e71cd4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0e71cd4\" 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<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">See Related Content:<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2f2b70b elementor-grid-3 elementor-grid-tablet-2 elementor-grid-mobile-1 elementor-posts--thumbnail-top elementor-card-shadow-yes elementor-posts__hover-gradient elementor-widget elementor-widget-posts\" data-id=\"2f2b70b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;cards_columns&quot;:&quot;3&quot;,&quot;cards_columns_tablet&quot;:&quot;2&quot;,&quot;cards_columns_mobile&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;cards_row_gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:35,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;cards_row_gap_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;cards_row_gap_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"posts.cards\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-posts-container elementor-posts elementor-posts--skin-cards elementor-grid\" role=\"list\">\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-4681 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-politics category-public-affairs category-public-policy tag-clinical tag-development-bank tag-digital tag-energy tag-fsa tag-healthcare tag-japanese-government tag-japanese-politics tag-ldp tag-meti tag-mhlw tag-mynumber tag-politics-in-japan tag-public-policy tag-renewables tag-technology tag-vaccines tag-wind-energy\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__card\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/public-policy-updates-february-2021\/\" tabindex=\"-1\" ><div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"157\" src=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/3-1-300x157.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-4690\" alt=\"PR February Theme\" srcset=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/3-1-300x157.png 300w, https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/3-1.png 1024w, https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/3-1-768x402.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/public-policy-updates-february-2021\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tPublic Policy Updates &#8211; February 2021\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>This month\u2019s edition of Policy Radar focuses on policy developments in Healthcare, Digital and Energy.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/public-policy-updates-february-2021\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Public Policy Updates &#8211; February 2021\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-date\">\n\t\t\tFebruary 8, 2021\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-4651 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-uncategorized tag-coronavirus tag-covid tag-covid-19 tag-economic-policy tag-japan tag-japanese-government tag-japanese-politics tag-pm-suga tag-public-health tag-state-of-emergency tag-tokyo tag-tokyo-metropolitan-government\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__card\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/the-japanese-governments-2020-response-to-covid-19\/\" tabindex=\"-1\" ><div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"157\" src=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/COVID-Report-Logo-300x157.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-3077\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/COVID-Report-Logo-300x157.png 300w, https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/COVID-Report-Logo.png 1024w, https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/COVID-Report-Logo-768x402.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/the-japanese-governments-2020-response-to-covid-19\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tThe Japanese Government&#8217;s 2020 Response to COVID-19\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>Langley Esquire is pleased to release the COVID Report 2020. Over the course of the last year, we have been tracking the Japanese government&#8217;s economic and public health response to the new coronavirus pandemic.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/the-japanese-governments-2020-response-to-covid-19\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about The Japanese Government&#8217;s 2020 Response to COVID-19\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-date\">\n\t\t\tJanuary 21, 2021\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-4111 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-digital category-media category-politics category-public-affairs category-public-policy tag-coronavirus tag-digital tag-digital-transfomation tag-digitization tag-e-japan tag-government-affairs tag-government-services tag-healthcare tag-japan tag-langley-esquire tag-market tag-telemedicine tag-u-s\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__card\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/digitization-in-japan\/\" tabindex=\"-1\" ><div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/1-3-300x200.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-4202\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/1-3-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/1-3.png 1024w, https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/1-3-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/1-3-1536x1024.png 1536w, https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/1-3-2048x1365.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/digitization-in-japan\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tThe Digital Agency\u2014 Why Japan\u2019s most Recent Modernization Push Is Serious\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>Suga to have a digital agency up and running by the end of 2021. Each ministry previously tackled digitization independently, leading to varying levels of success and end products, and no standardized administrative framework. The new agency will coordinate and unify efforts to modernize government services.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/digitization-in-japan\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about The Digital Agency\u2014 Why Japan\u2019s most Recent Modernization Push Is Serious\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-date\">\n\t\t\tOctober 22, 2020\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\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","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In Japan Politics Now, we aim to bring you Japan\u2019s latest political developments, both foreign and domestic, and explain in brief why they matter. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":4863,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","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":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","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 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center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[255,17,393],"tags":[149,145,1874,1029,1875,1873,986,147],"class_list":["post-4857","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics","category-public-affairs","category-public-policy","tag-japanese-government","tag-japanese-politics","tag-jcp","tag-ldp","tag-mori","tag-noda","tag-politics-in-japan","tag-public-policy"],"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>Japan Politics Now - March 2021 - Langley Esquire Government Relations &amp; Public Affairs: Getting the impossible done in Japan<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In Japan Politics Now, we aim to bring you 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