Ichiro Ozawa

Japan's new government boasts a record number of women, including two cabinet ministers, slightly shifting the gender balance in a country with historically low female representation in politics. The election victory of the centre-left Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) altered the demographic map of the lower house, with 54 women winning seats in the 480-member chamber, up from 43 after the last election. One of them, Keiko Chiba, 61, is the new justice minister, who opposes the death penalty and wants to encourage national debate on ending capital punishment. She is a supporter of London-based human rights group Amnesty International, which released a damning ... Read Full Story

The commander of US forces in Japan said Thursday a plan for the realignment of its bases there must be completed, speaking weeks before a crucial national election. Lieutenant General Edward A. Rice said the deal, which includes moving some 8,000 Marines from Okinawa island to the US territory of Guam, "is the right agreement for Japan and the people of the United States." The plan has been controversial, in part because Japan would pay billions of dollars for the move, and because US forces would open new facilities on the island, including a base in a pristine wildlife area. Okinawa is home to ... Read Full Story

Japan's top opposition leader announced Monday that he will resign to keep a political funding scandal from pulling down his party in upcoming parliamentary elections. Ichiro Ozawa, head of the Democratic Party of Japan, told a news conference he had decided to resign because he does not want the scandal involving one of his aides to cloud the elections, which must be held by Sept. 10. "I deeply apologize," he said. "I must do this for myself, for the people and for my party." The announcement was a major embarrassment for the Democrats, who surged ahead of Prime Minister Taro Aso's ruling party in ... Read Full Story

TOKYO: Ichiro Ozawa Chief of Democratic Party of Japan on Monday expressed his intention to step down as party head to take responsibility for the political funds scandal involving Nishimatsu Construction Co., party sources said. Ozawa reportedly conveyed his intention to DPJ executives, according to the sources. He said he decided to step down because of his strong desire that the DPJ win the next House of Representatives election. Ozawa was to hold a press conference in the evening. Party Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama and Vice President Katsuya Okada are considered strong candidates to succeed Ozawa. Ozawa’s state-funded secretary has been indicted over illegal ... Read Full Story

Japan's opposition leader Ichiro Ozawa, under fire over a political donations scandal, on Monday stepped down ahead of polls that conservative Prime Minister Taro Aso must call by September. Ozawa -- head of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) -- has been hit hard by the scandal, in which a top aide has been indicted for taking illegal donations from a construction company. "To strengthen our party unity for a victory in the upcoming general elections and for a change of government, I have decided to sacrifice myself and resign as DPJ leader," said Ozawa. Ozawa, a political veteran who stays on as a ... Read Full Story