{"id":5153,"date":"2021-05-19T02:18:24","date_gmt":"2021-05-19T02:18:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/?p=5153"},"modified":"2024-01-23T02:50:54","modified_gmt":"2024-01-23T02:50:54","slug":"japan-politics-now-may-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/japan-politics-now-may-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"Japan Politics Now &#8211; May 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"5153\" class=\"elementor elementor-5153\" 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\/05\/MicrosoftTeams-image-3-768x402.png\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-5175\" alt=\"Japan Politics Now\" srcset=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/MicrosoftTeams-image-3-768x402.png 768w, https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/MicrosoftTeams-image-3-300x157.png 300w, https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/MicrosoftTeams-image-3.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>May 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>The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) suffered defeats in three by-elections for seats in the Diet, the first national-level elections since Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide took office last September. The losses are unquestionably a blow to Suga and damage LDP politicians\u2019 confidence that he can lead them to victory in the lower-house election that must happen by October.<\/p><p>The LDP fielded candidates in two of the three special elections, and the party had hoped to win at least one of the two contested polls. But candidates backed by the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) emerged victorious in each election.<\/p><p>However, the significance of the opposition victories should not be overstated. In the elections in Hokkaido and Hiroshima, the LDP incumbents had been wrapped up in scandals before resigning, badly damaging the party\u2019s image. In the Nagano contest, the victor was the younger brother of the previous incumbent, who died in office, and a member of a local political family. While the government\u2019s slow vaccine rollout undoubtedly fueled voters\u2019 anger, all of these elections were well within the opposition\u2019s reach because of these local circumstances.<\/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; 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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-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>The next political bellwether will be the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election scheduled for July 4. The Tokyo LDP has feuded with Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko and her party, Tomin First no Kai, since it was overwhelmingly defeated by Koike in the 2017 assembly election. The two parties are expected to compete fiercely for control of the assembly in the upcoming contest, but the government\u2019s lack of support will weigh on the Tokyo LDP.<\/p><p>If the LDP is again routed in the assembly election, Suga\u2019s position will become increasingly tenuous. Lawmakers are already questioning whether the prime minister can lead his party to victory in the next lower-house election, and they are looking for any indicators that would point one way or the other. If Suga heads into fall with no political victories under his belt, he may find his own party reluctant to follow him.<\/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-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-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\">Public Uneasy as Summer Olympics Draw Near\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8b87874 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8b87874\" 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>Multiple public opinion polls about the upcoming Tokyo Olympics have found the Japanese public does not feel particularly positive about the event. National broadcaster NHK found that 49% or respondents said the event should be canceled, and Kyodo News said 59.7% of respondents in its poll said the same thing. Asahi Shimbun\u2019s survey found that 83% of respondents want the games postponed or canceled. Nonetheless, the government is still planning to move forward with the event, and Prime Minister Suga has said the games can be held safely.<\/p><p><i><span style=\"color: #b31b1b;\">Langley Insight<\/span>:<\/i> The Olympics are a major political gamble for Suga and the LDP. If the games can be held without major coronavirus outbreaks, the public will likely feel relieved and retrospectively hold mildly positive feelings about the event. It will also give the government an air of competency amid criticism that it has mismanaged the pandemic response and vaccination rollout. However, if significant outbreaks occur and COVID-19 cases among the Japanese population are traced to the Olympics, it will reinforce the perception that the government has bungled its response and validate criticisms that the games could not be held safely during the pandemic. The government has not announced any postponement or cancellation, but the Olympics could prove to be the undoing of the Suga administration.<\/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-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\">Constitutional Referendum Law Set to Pass Diet<\/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>Legislation to amend the national referendum law that would be used to conduct the national vote required to change Japan\u2019s Constitution is set to pass the current Diet session. The LDP agreed to CDP requests for restrictions on political advertisements on constitutional revision. The bill will also improve access to polling stations by setting up voting sites in railway stations and other facilities.<\/p><p><i><span style=\"color: #b31b1b;\">Langley Insight<\/span>:<\/i> Amending the Constitution has long been a goal of some within the LDP, and multiple surveys have shown a majority of the public is supportive of some form of change. However, a concerted push to change the supreme law is not likely to come soon. The issue does not seem to be a priority for Prime Minister Suga, who is more focused on his own initiatives like the Digital Agency, and public attention is centered on the vaccination rollout and pandemic response. With the LDP feeling anxious about the upcoming lower-election, there is little appetite to take on a politically fraught issue like constitutional revision.<\/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 Prime Minister Abe Shinzo Calls on LDP to Support Suga<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ddd6fa4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"ddd6fa4\" 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=\"768\" height=\"553\" src=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Capture-de\u0301cran-0003-05-19-a\u0300-13.06.34-768x553.png\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-5164\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Capture-de\u0301cran-0003-05-19-a\u0300-13.06.34-768x553.png 768w, https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Capture-de\u0301cran-0003-05-19-a\u0300-13.06.34-300x216.png 300w, https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Capture-de\u0301cran-0003-05-19-a\u0300-13.06.34.png 834w\" 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-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 Abe Shinzo said on a television program that it is \u201cnatural\u201d that Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide should stay on as party president and prime minister after his current term ends this fall, and he called on LDP members to use \u201ccommon sense\u201d and support Suga.<\/p><p><i><span style=\"color: #b31b1b;\">Langley Insight<\/span>:<\/i> Abe retains significant influence as the de facto head of the largest faction within the LDP, and some speculate that he may try to mount a return to power. Abe\u2019s support for Suga could vanish if the Cabinet support rate plummets and the LDP\u2019s own favorability drops, but for the moment the former premier has indicated that he is not supporting an alternative candidate from within his own political faction.<\/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\">Moritomo Files to Be Released Ahead of Tokyo Election<\/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>The government has admitted the existence of a set of documents that comprehensively detail the events of the Moritomo Gakuen scandal, in which the Finance Ministry sold government land to an associate of former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo at a fraudulently low price. The documents were created by Akagi Toshio, the ministry official who altered official documents under orders from his superiors and subsequently took his own life. The government will submit the documents during court proceedings on June 23.<\/p><p><i><span style=\"color: #b31b1b;\">Langley Insight<\/span>:<\/i> Of the multiple scandals and quasi-scandals related to Abe, Moritomo was perhaps the most damaging. It sank Abe\u2019s support rate, dominated news cycles, ate up time during Diet proceedings and popularized the term sontaku &#8212; the phenomenon in which bureaucrats guess at leaders\u2019 unstated wishes and act accordingly. The documents could put the scandal back in headlines, which would be damaging for LDP heavyweights like Abe and Finance Minister Aso Taro, and for the party more broadly. The documents will also be released shortly before the July 4 Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election, which itself will be a bellwether for the lower-house election likely to come next fall.<\/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-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=\"513\" src=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/50245326991_b3e08c9713_b-768x513.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-5160\" alt=\"Navy SDF\" srcset=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/50245326991_b3e08c9713_b-768x513.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/50245326991_b3e08c9713_b-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/50245326991_b3e08c9713_b.jpeg 1024w\" 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\"><\/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-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-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\">Japan Undertakes Large-Scale Military Training with France and U.S.<\/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>In May, Japan started joint military drills with France and the U.S. on Japanese soil for the first time. The training exercises focused on urban warfare and amphibious operations. Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said Japan wants to increase its cooperation with \u201clike-minded countries,\u201d a reference to countries that share democratic values.<\/p><p><i><span style=\"color: #b31b1b;\">Langley Insight<\/span>:<\/i> Europe is showing a growing interest in the Indo-Pacific, a development welcomed by Tokyo. Japan is increasingly wary of Chinese maritime expansion, and it is eagerly courting more partners to counterbalance Beijing in the region. Polling has consistently shown that in other countries, the Japanese public is more distrustful of China. That means the government can frame growing defense ties with other democratic countries as pushback against China without provoking public backlash.<\/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>After appearing to bottom out, the Suga Cabinet\u2019s support rate plummeted in May opinion polls. Frustration over the slow vaccine rollout, rising infection numbers, and anxiety over the upcoming Tokyo Olympics have sunk in among the public. If vaccination rates ramp up as the government predicts, voters may prove to be forgiving in the fall after the feeling of crisis has passed. If the support rate stays in the traditional \u201cdanger zone\u201d of 30% to 39% for an extended time, however, jittery LDP politicians may start looking for a more popular leader to shepherd them through the upcoming election.<\/p><p>Cabinet: 35% support (-9pp), 43% do not support (+5pp)<br \/>Parties: LDP 33.7%, CDP 5.8%, Komeito 2.9%, Ishin 1.6%, JCP 3.1%, DPP 0.6%<\/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 loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"590\" src=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Capture-de\u0301cran-0003-05-19-a\u0300-10.38.28-1024x590.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-5158\" alt=\"NHK Poll May 2021\" srcset=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Capture-de\u0301cran-0003-05-19-a\u0300-10.38.28.png 1024w, https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Capture-de\u0301cran-0003-05-19-a\u0300-10.38.28-300x173.png 300w, https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Capture-de\u0301cran-0003-05-19-a\u0300-10.38.28-768x442.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 and media monitoring, stakeholder mapping, and government relations. 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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-5106 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-politics category-public-affairs category-public-policy tag-casino tag-elections tag-energy tag-environment tag-gambling tag-healthcare tag-japanese-government tag-japanese-politics tag-ldp tag-olympics-2 tag-online-betting tag-politics-in-japan tag-public-policy\" 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-may-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\/05\/MicrosoftTeams-image-1-300x157.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-5108\" alt=\"Policy Radar May 2021\" srcset=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/MicrosoftTeams-image-1-300x157.png 300w, 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alt=\"Japan Politics Now April\" srcset=\"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, https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/MicrosoftTeams-image-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\/japan-politics-now-april-2021\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tJapan Politics Now &#8211; April 2021\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<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\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/japan-politics-now-april-2021\/\" 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class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/abes-legacy-japan-transformed-after-eight-years-in-office\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tAbe\u2019s Legacy: Japan Transformed After Eight Years in Office\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>Despite his victories, Abe&#8217;s success could never match his ambition, and he leaves office with several objectives unfulfilled. Nonetheless, he leaves Japan changed in ways both big and small.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/abes-legacy-japan-transformed-after-eight-years-in-office\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Abe\u2019s Legacy: Japan Transformed After Eight Years in Office\" 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\tSeptember 17, 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<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-83c91d4 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"83c91d4\" 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-20bce30 elementor-widget elementor-widget-copyright\" data-id=\"20bce30\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;align&quot;:&quot;center&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"copyright.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hfe-copyright-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/insights-and-media\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Copyright \u00a9 2026 Langley Esquire Government Relations &amp; Public Affairs: Getting the impossible done in Japan<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\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\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\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":5175,"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":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","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":[1886,1884,149,145,1029,1885,1887,1878,986,147,1771,1724,1861],"class_list":["post-5153","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics","category-public-affairs","category-public-policy","tag-france","tag-indo-pacific","tag-japanese-government","tag-japanese-politics","tag-ldp","tag-navy","tag-nhk","tag-olympics-2","tag-politics-in-japan","tag-public-policy","tag-sdf","tag-suga","tag-us"],"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 - May 2021 - Langley Esquire Government Relations &amp; Public Affairs: Getting the impossible done in 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