{"id":13460,"date":"2025-12-23T10:46:57","date_gmt":"2025-12-23T10:46:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/?p=13460"},"modified":"2025-12-23T11:53:26","modified_gmt":"2025-12-23T11:53:26","slug":"japanese-politics-updates-20251214","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/japanese-politics-updates-20251214\/","title":{"rendered":"Japanese Politics Updates &#8211; December 14, 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"13460\" class=\"elementor elementor-13460\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c0566af e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"c0566af\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-056fcde e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"056fcde\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-308d8f5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"308d8f5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/live\\\/PvtwKxn1tUk?si=x9iOPCP2kMTWmxVt&quot;,&quot;show_image_overlay&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;image_overlay&quot;:{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/12\\\/2025-12-14-Japanese-politics.png&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:13461,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;Japanese Politics Updates, Japanese Politics One-on-One #253&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\/12\/2025-12-14-Japanese-politics.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 #253\" 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-7cc0e3bb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7cc0e3bb\" 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\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Good morning, and welcome to the recap of&nbsp;<em>Japanese Politics One-on-One<\/em>, Episode 253, broadcast on a bitterly cold &amp; wet December Sunday, with me pinned in port aboard the Good Ship&nbsp;<em>Gryms<\/em>&nbsp;in Hota as wind and weather reminded us who is in charge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This week\u2019s objective is to focus on what actually moved Japan\u2019s political, economic, and security trajectory as we enter the final three days of the Extraordinary Diet session and begin setting the conditions for a highly consequential January and early 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-this-week-s-headline-takeaways\"><strong>This Week\u2019s Headline Takeaways<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Supplementary Budget is passing but how it passes matters more than the number. DPFP support (Tamaki) has become essential insurance in the Upper House.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The LDP\u2013Ishin relationship is being de-risked as the Prime Minister is quietly building redundancy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Komeito is behaving like an opposition party that still wants governing credibility, so their collaboration in the passage of the supplemental budget (plus hopefully more). Their \u201cvote\u201d is brand management, not loyalty.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Electoral reform (seat cuts) is effectively dead for this session, and Ishin will leave angry, but not angry-enough to leave the dance.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The yen remains historically weak (around \u00a5\/$155.75), and the BOJ meeting this week is expected to deliver a meaningful policy signal.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>China\/Russia operational activity around Japan is no longer theater. It\u2019s normalization of pressure. Tokyo is bracing for \u201cnew normal\u201d (\u2026but not the one being pursued by China).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Washington and the U.S. Embassy are singing slightly different notes on China, and Japan is trying not to become collateral damage in a larger U.S.\u2013China trade calculation. This could happen, though.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-prime-minister-s-week-and-the-final-days-of-the-diet\"><strong>The Prime Minister\u2019s Week and the Final Days of the Diet<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Prime Minister Takaichi is now six weeks into office, and the tone of this week was not ceremonial. No state visits, no headline diplomacy, just hard parliamentary work: Budget Committee defenses, coalition maintenance, and careful language designed to reassure markets while still pushing a very large fiscal package.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Her original pitch was fiscal responsibility. The problem is that long-term yields are at multi-decade highs. The yen remains under pressure, so \u201cresponsible stimulus\u201d has become a balancing act rather than a slogan. If you listen closely, her phrasing has grown more calibrated \u2014 not because she is changing her mind, but because she now understands that market confidence has become a political variable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the same time, one of the session\u2019s flagship political promises \u2014 the \u201cself-sacrificing\u201d electoral reform narrative \u2014 is slipping away. The proposed reduction in Lower House seats, once framed as a headline reform, is now effectively stalled and likely dead for this session.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The result: the government will exit this Extraordinary Diet session with essentially only one major achievement and one major unfulfilled promise and the aftertaste this creates will shape January.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-supplementary-budget-2025-the-achievement-and-the-signal\"><strong>Supplementary Budget 2025: The Achievement and the Signal<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Supplementary Budget of roughly \u00a518 trillion will pass. That will allow the government to claim legislative competence early in Takaichi\u2019s tenure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But the real story is the coalition arithmetic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The governing bloc remains short of a working majority in the Upper House by a small number of votes. That is where DPFP (Tamaki) has re-emerged as a crucial, practical actor, and why the Cabinet\u2019s warmth toward him this week is not incidental. It reads like the Prime Minister quietly saying:&nbsp;<em>Ishin is my formal partner, but I will not let my government\u2019s stability depend on a single unpredictable dance partner.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That means Ishin is being de-risked. And that, politically, is one of the more skillful things we have seen from an LDP leader in a long time: build redundancy without declaring a divorce. Former PM Ishiba was unable to do this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-ldp-ishin-strained-intact-and-re-sorted\"><strong>LDP\u2013Ishin: Strained, Intact and Re-Sorted<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Ishin problem is emotional and structural at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ishin views seat cuts as proof of \u201creform seriousness.\u201d The LDP views seat cuts as politically costly\u00a0\u00a0because a 10% reduction doesn\u2019t come out of the air. Rather, it comes out of somebody\u2019s career. The Prime Minister is caught between Ishin\u2019s demand for a visible deliverable and the LDP\u2019s internal resistance (including backbenchers who dislike the coalition in the first place).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With only days left, Ishin now appears to recognize that Takaichi will not extend the Diet. She will not gamble political capital on a measure that alienates her own party, either. Ishin will be angry, they will posture, maybe even threaten. But Ishin also understands the basic strategic reality: being \u201cin\u201d is better than being \u201cout,\u201d especially with January bringing a 150-day Regular Diet session and potentially volatile legislative terrain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So the likely outcome is a familiar Japanese one: the fight is postponed, not resolved. The bill dies with the session. The argument restarts in January and Ishin will demand \u201ccompensation\u201d in some form, even if it is not a ministerial position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-komeito-opposition-identity-without-losing-relevance\"><strong>Komeito: Opposition Identity Without Losing Relevance<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Komeito\u2019s behavior around the budget deserves attention because it illustrates the new logic of political party branding in Japan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Komeito is trying to convince voters it did not abandon household interests, even as it exits governing power. Voting behavior becomes less about allegiance and more about continuity: \u201cWe can still deliver tangible benefits, see?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That is why the budget vote is not a return to friendship. It is brand management: positioning for the next election while keeping leverage for future coordination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-economy-yen-boj-and-a-quiet-shift-in-the-inflation-story\"><strong>Economy: Yen, BOJ, and a Quiet Shift in the Inflation Story<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The yen closed Friday at approximately \u00a5155.75\/$ \u2014 a touch stronger than last week, but still deeply weak by historical standards. This is not random volatility. It reflects converging forces: higher Japanese yields, persistent inflation expectations, and anticipation that the BOJ is edging toward its next move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Bank of Japan meets Thursday and Friday, with real speculation about another rate increase. Even if the BOJ does not move, the messaging will matter. The market is trying to determine whether Japan is finally transitioning from cost-push inflation into something closer to demand-pull inflation as early Shunto signals begin to surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Meanwhile, the weak yen continues to bite in an uneven way. People feel it not only at the grocery store and the petrol station. It is in the quiet monthly drip of imported services: software licenses, subscriptions, and anything priced in dollars. Exporters benefit, but even they know currency-driven gains can evaporate quickly if policy shifts accelerate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Prime Minister\u2019s fiscal brand is now pinned to a single question: can she keep stimulus moving without triggering market distrust?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-regional-security-a-new-normal-of-pressure\"><strong>Regional Security: A New Normal of Pressure<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Japan\u2019s security environment feels more active \u2014 and more uncomfortable \u2014 by the week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Ministry of Defense confirmed increased Chinese and Russian joint activities, including coordinated bomber and fighter operations around Japan\u2019s periphery. This is serious. These are not symbolic flybys. They are operational demonstrations designed to normalize pressure and probe response patterns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Japan is increasingly bracing for a \u201croutine incident\u201d environment where the exceptional becomes normal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the same time, discussions are advancing within the LDP (and with Ishin) on loosening restrictions on arms exports. At these discussions, the tone has shifted from theory to implementation. Tokyo is also dealing with multidirectional pressure: the north, the south, and the east, all at once. Layer in a run of earthquakes and you get a public atmosphere of vigilance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-u-s-china-japan-two-tones-one-delicate-game\"><strong>U.S.\u2013China\u2013Japan: Two Tones, One Delicate Game<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the more subtle but important dynamics this week: the contrast between the tone coming from the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo and the cooler signals coming out of Washington, particularly as the U.S. explores trade stabilization with Beijing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The logic may be consistent \u2014 Embassy reassurance versus Washington\u2019s larger China management \u2014 but the effect in Tokyo is still unsettling. Japan is trying to uphold alliance credibility without becoming collateral damage in a larger trade and strategic calculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Prime Minister Takaichi\u2019s more careful phrasing reflects this balancing act. She has also asked for a meeting with President Trump. If it happens quickly, it will be to remove ambiguity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-q-amp-a\"><strong>Q&amp;A<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What is your take on the relationship between religion and politics in Japan going forward, specifically Tenri, the Unification Church, and Komeito now outside the administration?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Do you expect new legislation or tighter rules regulating the relationship between political parties and religious organizations?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Does \u201cbenky\u014dkai\u201d money go to the individual politician, or is it shared with \/ routed through the party?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What about Okada \u2014 does he (and his family\u2019s China exposure) represent a \u201cwolf warrior\u201d presence inside the Diet?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Earlier you said Ishin is unlikely to leave the coalition even if the LDP fails to deliver electoral reform. Why is that?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Does the Cabinet\u2019s unusually enthusiastic response to DPFP support for the supplementary budget signal that the government is already positioning DPFP as an alliance back-up in case Ishin withdraws support?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Is Komeito having second thoughts about exiting power, as suggested by its behavior on the supplementary budget vote?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In the effort to build a trade deal with the PRC, is the U.S. sending confusing signals to Japan \u2014 with the U.S. Ambassador in Tokyo being effusive while Washington\u2019s tone is noticeably more tepid?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What is the current state of the U.S.\u2013Japan security alliance and related strategic coordination, including any recent \u201cdeal\u201d dynamics?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Do you still believe a snap election is plausible as early as the opening of the January Diet session? What signals should we watch (especially the announced opening date)?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-final-thoughts\"><strong>Final Thoughts<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This week was less about drama and more about structure. The Supplementary Budget will pass but the passage reveals who matters in the Upper House and how the Prime Minister is quietly building redundancy. Electoral reform will fail. However, the failure reveals where the coalition\u2019s true limits are. While the yen and BOJ meeting will dominate market attention, the deeper story is the slow shift in Japan\u2019s inflation psychology and the politics of fiscal credibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And on security, the region is telling Japan, plainly, that the old assumption of \u201cincidents as exceptions\u201d is over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019re heading into January with momentum and undoubtedly with surprises. The next brieifing goes on air on December 21, Sunday at 8:20 am Japan time. Tune in to stay informed.<\/p>\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\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-72580cf e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"72580cf\" 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-47c4986 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"47c4986\" 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-d531c69 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"d531c69\" 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-df4367b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"df4367b\" 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\/ja\/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-ae40eee e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"ae40eee\" 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-bc945f7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-template\" data-id=\"bc945f7\" 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=\"\/ja\/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>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Good morning, and welcome to the recap of&nbsp;Japanese Politics One-on-One, Episode 253, broadcast on a bitterly cold &amp; wet December Sunday, with me pinned in port aboard the Good Ship&nbsp;Gryms&nbsp;in Hota as wind and weather reminded us who is in charge. This week\u2019s objective is to focus on what actually moved Japan\u2019s political, economic, and security trajectory as we enter the final three days of the Extraordinary Diet session and begin setting the conditions for a highly consequential January and early 2026. This Week\u2019s Headline Takeaways The Prime Minister\u2019s Week and the Final Days of the Diet Prime Minister Takaichi is now six weeks into office, and the tone of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":13461,"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":"disabled","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-13460","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 - December 14, 2025<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The yen continues to fluctuate; BoJ at a turning point; regional security now means a new normal of pressure\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"\/ja\/https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/japanese-politics-updates-20251214\/\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"ja_JP\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Japanese Politics Updates - December 14, 2025\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The yen continues to fluctuate; BoJ at a turning point; regional security now means a new normal of pressure\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"\/ja\/https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/japanese-politics-updates-20251214\/\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Langley Esquire Government Relations &amp; Public Affairs: Getting the impossible done in Japan\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/langleyesquire\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-12-23T10:46:57+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-12-23T11:53:26+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2025-12-14-Japanese-politics.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1280\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"720\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Maya\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@langleyesquire\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@langleyesquire\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"\u57f7\u7b46\u8005\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Maya\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"\u63a8\u5b9a\u8aad\u307f\u53d6\u308a\u6642\u9593\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8\u5206\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/ja\\\/japanese-politics-updates-20251214\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/ja\\\/japanese-politics-updates-20251214\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Maya\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/ja\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/b7da9460beeda383d24da8bd5af4b428\"},\"headline\":\"Japanese Politics Updates &#8211; December 14, 2025\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-12-23T10:46:57+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-12-23T11:53:26+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/ja\\\/japanese-politics-updates-20251214\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1794,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/ja\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/ja\\\/japanese-politics-updates-20251214\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/12\\\/2025-12-14-Japanese-politics.png\",\"articleSection\":[\"Politics\"],\"inLanguage\":\"ja\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/ja\\\/japanese-politics-updates-20251214\\\/#respond\"]}],\"copyrightYear\":\"2025\",\"copyrightHolder\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/ja\\\/#organization\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/ja\\\/japanese-politics-updates-20251214\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/ja\\\/japanese-politics-updates-20251214\\\/\",\"name\":\"Japanese Politics Updates - December 14, 2025\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/ja\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/ja\\\/japanese-politics-updates-20251214\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/ja\\\/japanese-politics-updates-20251214\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/12\\\/2025-12-14-Japanese-politics.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-12-23T10:46:57+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-12-23T11:53:26+00:00\",\"description\":\"The yen continues to fluctuate; BoJ at a turning point; regional security now means a new normal of pressure\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/ja\\\/japanese-politics-updates-20251214\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"ja\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/ja\\\/japanese-politics-updates-20251214\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"ja\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/ja\\\/japanese-politics-updates-20251214\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/12\\\/2025-12-14-Japanese-politics.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/12\\\/2025-12-14-Japanese-politics.png\",\"width\":1280,\"height\":720,\"caption\":\"Japanese Politics Updates, Japanese Politics One-on-One #253\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/ja\\\/japanese-politics-updates-20251214\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/ja\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Japanese Politics Updates &#8211; December 14, 2025\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/ja\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/ja\\\/\",\"name\":\"Langley Esquire\",\"description\":\"The Longest-Standing and Most Experienced Government Relations &amp; Public Policy Agency In Japan\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/ja\\\/#organization\"},\"alternateName\":\"The Government Relations And Policy Agency of Japan\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/ja\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"ja\"},{\"@type\":[\"Organization\",\"Place\"],\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/ja\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Langley Esquire\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/ja\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/ja\\\/japanese-politics-updates-20251214\\\/#local-main-organization-logo\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/ja\\\/japanese-politics-updates-20251214\\\/#local-main-organization-logo\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/langleyesquire\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/langleyesquire\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/company\\\/langley-esquire\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/user\\\/langleyesquire\"],\"telephone\":[],\"openingHoursSpecification\":[{\"@type\":\"OpeningHoursSpecification\",\"dayOfWeek\":[\"Monday\",\"Tuesday\",\"Wednesday\",\"Thursday\",\"Friday\",\"Saturday\",\"Sunday\"],\"opens\":\"09:00\",\"closes\":\"17:00\"}]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/ja\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/b7da9460beeda383d24da8bd5af4b428\",\"name\":\"Maya\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"ja\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/e79a3a119fd9be0577f5905d9ce0961e0932dc32ef24f047f50ff61299ec577f?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/e79a3a119fd9be0577f5905d9ce0961e0932dc32ef24f047f50ff61299ec577f?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/e79a3a119fd9be0577f5905d9ce0961e0932dc32ef24f047f50ff61299ec577f?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Maya\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/ja\\\/author\\\/maya-matsuoka\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"ja\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/ja\\\/japanese-politics-updates-20251214\\\/#local-main-organization-logo\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2019\\\/09\\\/Langley_Esquire_Logo.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2019\\\/09\\\/Langley_Esquire_Logo.jpg\",\"width\":400,\"height\":400,\"caption\":\"Langley Esquire\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Japanese Politics Updates - December 14, 2025","description":"The yen continues to fluctuate; BoJ at a turning point; regional security now means a new normal of pressure","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"\/ja\/https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/japanese-politics-updates-20251214\/\/","og_locale":"ja_JP","og_type":"article","og_title":"Japanese Politics Updates - December 14, 2025","og_description":"The yen continues to fluctuate; BoJ at a turning point; regional security now means a new normal of pressure","og_url":"\/ja\/https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/japanese-politics-updates-20251214\/\/","og_site_name":"Langley Esquire Government Relations &amp; Public Affairs: Getting the impossible done in Japan","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/langleyesquire\/","article_published_time":"2025-12-23T10:46:57+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-12-23T11:53:26+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1280,"height":720,"url":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2025-12-14-Japanese-politics.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"Maya","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@langleyesquire","twitter_site":"@langleyesquire","twitter_misc":{"\u57f7\u7b46\u8005":"Maya","\u63a8\u5b9a\u8aad\u307f\u53d6\u308a\u6642\u9593":"8\u5206"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/japanese-politics-updates-20251214\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/japanese-politics-updates-20251214\/"},"author":{"name":"Maya","@id":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/#\/schema\/person\/b7da9460beeda383d24da8bd5af4b428"},"headline":"Japanese Politics Updates &#8211; December 14, 2025","datePublished":"2025-12-23T10:46:57+00:00","dateModified":"2025-12-23T11:53:26+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/japanese-politics-updates-20251214\/"},"wordCount":1794,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/japanese-politics-updates-20251214\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2025-12-14-Japanese-politics.png","articleSection":["Politics"],"inLanguage":"ja","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/japanese-politics-updates-20251214\/#respond"]}],"copyrightYear":"2025","copyrightHolder":{"@id":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/#organization"}},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/japanese-politics-updates-20251214\/","url":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/japanese-politics-updates-20251214\/","name":"Japanese Politics Updates - December 14, 2025","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/japanese-politics-updates-20251214\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/japanese-politics-updates-20251214\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2025-12-14-Japanese-politics.png","datePublished":"2025-12-23T10:46:57+00:00","dateModified":"2025-12-23T11:53:26+00:00","description":"The yen continues to fluctuate; BoJ at a turning point; regional security now means a new normal of pressure","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/japanese-politics-updates-20251214\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"ja","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/japanese-politics-updates-20251214\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"ja","@id":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/japanese-politics-updates-20251214\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2025-12-14-Japanese-politics.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2025-12-14-Japanese-politics.png","width":1280,"height":720,"caption":"Japanese Politics Updates, Japanese Politics One-on-One #253"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/japanese-politics-updates-20251214\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Japanese Politics Updates &#8211; December 14, 2025"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/#website","url":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/","name":"Langley Esquire","description":"The Longest-Standing and Most Experienced Government Relations &amp; Public Policy Agency In Japan","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/#organization"},"alternateName":"The Government Relations And Policy Agency of Japan","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"ja"},{"@type":["Organization","Place"],"@id":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/#organization","name":"Langley Esquire","url":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/","logo":{"@id":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/japanese-politics-updates-20251214\/#local-main-organization-logo"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/japanese-politics-updates-20251214\/#local-main-organization-logo"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/langleyesquire\/","https:\/\/x.com\/langleyesquire","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/langley-esquire","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/langleyesquire"],"telephone":[],"openingHoursSpecification":[{"@type":"OpeningHoursSpecification","dayOfWeek":["Monday","Tuesday","Wednesday","Thursday","Friday","Saturday","Sunday"],"opens":"09:00","closes":"17:00"}]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/#\/schema\/person\/b7da9460beeda383d24da8bd5af4b428","name":"Maya","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"ja","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e79a3a119fd9be0577f5905d9ce0961e0932dc32ef24f047f50ff61299ec577f?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e79a3a119fd9be0577f5905d9ce0961e0932dc32ef24f047f50ff61299ec577f?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e79a3a119fd9be0577f5905d9ce0961e0932dc32ef24f047f50ff61299ec577f?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Maya"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/"],"url":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/author\/maya-matsuoka\/"},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"ja","@id":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/japanese-politics-updates-20251214\/#local-main-organization-logo","url":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Langley_Esquire_Logo.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Langley_Esquire_Logo.jpg","width":400,"height":400,"caption":"Langley Esquire"}]}},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2025-12-14-Japanese-politics.png",1280,720,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2025-12-14-Japanese-politics-150x150.png",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2025-12-14-Japanese-politics-300x169.png",300,169,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2025-12-14-Japanese-politics-768x432.png",768,432,true],"large":["https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2025-12-14-Japanese-politics-1024x576.png",1024,576,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2025-12-14-Japanese-politics.png",1280,720,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2025-12-14-Japanese-politics.png",1280,720,false],"trp-custom-language-flag":["https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2025-12-14-Japanese-politics-18x10.png",18,10,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Maya","author_link":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/author\/maya-matsuoka\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Good morning, and welcome to the recap of&nbsp;Japanese Politics One-on-One, Episode 253, broadcast on a bitterly cold &amp; wet December Sunday, with me pinned in port aboard the Good Ship&nbsp;Gryms&nbsp;in Hota as wind and weather reminded us who is in charge. This week\u2019s objective is to focus on what actually moved Japan\u2019s political, economic, and&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13460","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13460"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13460\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13467,"href":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13460\/revisions\/13467"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13461"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13460"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13460"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13460"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}