Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party elected Shigeru Ishiba as its new president on September 27 and he became the new Prime Minister of Japan soon thereafter. Having been an opposition within the LDP in recent years, Ishiba was a rather surprising choice and reflects the political turmoil within the LDP, which has been marred by various political scandals. Ishiba wasted no time in calling a Lower House election, which will take place on October 27 with much at stake, including LDP’s hold on power.

With nine candidates running for the LDP president, how did Ishiba emerge victorious? Given the razor-thin margin of his victory, what is his power base in the LDP with the traditional factions supposedly dissolved? What would be his domestic policy priorities and key foreign policy agenda? Two leading experts in Japan will join us for this webinar to share their insights on how the new prime minister was able to prevail in the LDP presidential election and what he will bring to the table.

Speakers

Harukata Takenaka is a professor at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) in Tokyo. He holds a PhD from Stanford University and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Tokyo.

His key research areas are the role the prime minister in Japanese politics, changes in Japanese external policy, and democratization in Pre-war Japan.

Prof. Takenaka’s recent publications include: “Kyokoku Chugoku” to Taijisuru Indo-Taiheiyo Shokoku [Indo-Pacific Nations facing China aspiring to be a “Great Country”](edited) (Tokyo: Chikura Shobo, 2022), “Evolution of Japanese security policy and the House of Councilors,” Japanese Journal of Political Science, 22:2, (June 2021), 96-115, Korona Kiki no Seiji [Politics of Covid 19 Crisis](Tokyo: Chuo Koron Shinsha, 2020), “Expansion of the Japanese prime minister’s power in the Japanese parliamentary system: Transformation of Japanese politics and the institutional reforms,” Asian Survey,59:5:844-869 (September 2019); Futatsu no Seiken Kotai [Two Changes of Government] (edited) (Tokyo: Keiso Shobo, 2017); Failed Democratization in Prewar Japan (Stanford University Press 2014),

Image

Noriko Akiyama is a senior political writer at The Asahi Shimbunthe second largest newspaper company in Japan, with a 140 year history and a circulation of about 4 million.

Before assuming her current role, she served as an assistant political editor, political reporter, and reporter for AERAa Japanese weekly magazine owned and published by Asahi Shimbun. She is the first female senior political writer and an assistant political editor in Asahi. In addition, Ms. Akiyama has authored eight books on women in non-profits, gender politics in Japan, female bureaucrats, civil society leaders, a guide to Japan’s political history, and a biography on Chiyo Obata,Japan’s first female professional wrestler.

In 2018, Ms. Akiyama received the Social Journalist Award from the Japan Association of New Public and in 2024, was selected as the International House Journalism Award Finalist. She is also an alumna of the Japan Women Leadership Initiative (2018), a Fish Family Foundation sponsored program for Japanese women; and the International Visitor Leadership Program (2016), the US Department of State’s premier professional exchange program.

Ms. Akiyama holds a ph. D. in Social Science from University of Tsukuba, Master of Science in empires, colonialism and globalization from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a BA in sociology from the University of Tokyo.

Moderator

Image

Kiyoteru Tsutsui is the Henri H. and Tomoye Takahashi Professor and Senior Fellow in Japanese Studies at Shorenstein APARC, the Director of the Japan Program and Deputy Director at APARC, a senior fellow of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, and Professor of Sociology, all at Stanford University. Tsutsui received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Kyoto University and earned an additional master’s degree and Ph.D. from Stanford’s sociology department in 2002. Tsutsui’s research interests lie in political/comparative sociology, social movements, globalization, human rights, and Japanese society. His most recent publication, Human Rights and the State: The Power of Ideas and the Realities of International Politics (Iwanami Shinsho, 2022), was awarded the 2022 Ishibashi Tanzan Award and the 44th Suntory Prize for Arts and Sciences.